叙述

• Reading: じょじゅつ
• Romaji: jojutsu
• Kanji breakdown: 叙 (jo) — narrate, arrange; 述 (jutsu) — state, explain
• Pronunciation: /dʑo.dʑɯ.tsɯ/

Meaning

Narration; description; account. The act of setting out facts, events, or ideas in a structured, orderly manner.

A noun that can also function verbally as 叙述する. In literary studies it refers to narrative technique — the method by which a writer presents events and scenes to the reader. Linguists use it to describe the predicate function in a sentence (叙述的用法). It contrasts with 描写 (byōsha — vivid portrayal), which emphasises sensory immediacy over ordered presentation.

Examples

1. この小説の叙述は時系列を無視した構成になっている。 The narration in this novel is structured without regard to chronological order.
2. 事件の叙述が曖昧で、読者に伝わりにくい。 The account of the incident is so vague that it's hard for readers to follow.
3. 彼女の叙述スタイルは簡潔でありながら深みがある。 Her narrative style is concise yet rich in depth.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, linguistics, academic writing

Tone: analytical

Origin & History

From 叙 (jo — to narrate, to arrange in order) and 述 (jutsu — to state, to explain). Both characters relate to the act of expressing and setting out information in a deliberate sequence.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Educated adults

Social background: Academic