When you combine them, 说明书 (shuōmíngshū) literally translates to an “explain-clear-book.” It's a document whose purpose is to explain something clearly to the user.
While “instruction manual” is a universal concept, the 说明书 (shuōmíngshū) holds a particularly important place in a manufacturing powerhouse like China. Products, both domestic and for export, are accompanied by a 说明书. A key cultural point is the detail often found in a 药品说明书 (yàopǐn shuōmíngshū), or medicine instruction leaflet. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and modern medicine alike place a strong emphasis on providing comprehensive information about ingredients, effects, side effects, and dosage. Learning to find the dosage information on a 说明书 is a critical life skill for any learner living in China. Compared to the English “manual,” 说明书 has a slightly broader application. While we might distinguish between “instructions,” a “brochure,” and a “spec sheet” in English, 说明书 can often cover all of these. For example, a leaflet from a bank explaining a new type of account could be called a 说明书 because it “explains” the service. The core concept is explanation, not just operational steps.
说明书 is a neutral, standard term used in both formal and informal contexts when referring to an instruction document.
A common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 说明书 from similar-sounding words for “instructions” or “manuals.”