chénshù: 陈述 - To State, To Declare, Statement

• Keywords: chenshu meaning, 陈述 in English, how to use 陈述, Chinese word for statement, declare in Chinese, formal statement in Chinese, what is chenshu, Chinese legal terms, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: “陈述” (chénshù) is a formal Chinese verb and noun meaning “to state,” “to declare,” or a “statement.” It is primarily used in official, legal, academic, or serious contexts where a clear, detailed, and factual account is required. Unlike the common word “说” (shuō, to say), “陈述” implies a structured presentation of facts, such as giving a witness statement to the police or formally presenting a case in a meeting.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): chénshù
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To state or declare something formally and in detail; a formal statement.
• In a Nutshell: Think of “陈述” not as just “saying” something, but as “making a formal statement.” It's the word you use when you are presenting information in a structured, serious, and often official way. It carries a weight of formality and objectivity, focusing on laying out the facts as clearly as possible, like for a report, a legal record, or a formal presentation.

• 陈 (chén): This character's primary meaning is “to arrange,” “to lay out,” or “to display.” It suggests setting things out in an orderly fashion for others to see.
• 述 (shù): This character means “to narrate” or “to relate.” The radical on the left (辶) signifies movement or following a path, suggesting the act of recounting events in a sequence.
• When combined, 陈述 (chénshù) literally means “to lay out a narration.” This perfectly captures the idea of presenting facts or a story in a clear, organized, and detailed manner, which is the core of making a formal statement.

In Chinese culture, distinguishing between formal (正式, zhèngshì) and informal (非正式, fēizhèngshì) situations is very important. “陈述” falls squarely into the formal category. It reflects a cultural emphasis on precision, order, and respect for procedure in official and serious matters. A good Western comparison is the difference between “telling your friend what happened” and “giving a deposition to a lawyer.” You might use emotional, casual language with your friend, but when giving a deposition, you are expected to be precise, factual, and objective. “陈述” captures the feeling of the latter. It is used when your words are “on the record” and carry significant weight. This is especially true in legal, governmental, and corporate settings, where clarity and factual accuracy are paramount to avoid misunderstanding and maintain procedural integrity.

“陈述” is not a word for everyday chat. Its usage is highly contextual and signals a formal or serious situation.

• Legal and Official Settings: This is the most common context. A witness gives a statement (`证人陈述`), a suspect makes a statement to the police, or a lawyer presents the facts of a case (`律师陈述案情`). It's the standard term for official testimony or reporting.
• Business and Academic Environments: In a formal meeting, you might be asked to “state your views” (`请陈述你的观点`). An academic might “state the results of their research” (`陈述研究结果`) in a paper or presentation. It implies a structured, evidence-based presentation, not just a casual opinion.
• As a Noun: “陈述” can also mean “the statement” itself. For example, `他的陈述有很多疑点` (Tā de chénshù yǒu hěnduō yídiǎn) means “His statement has many doubtful points.”

The connotation is almost always neutral and objective. It focuses on the act of presenting information rather than the information's emotional content.

• Example 1:
  • 警察要求目击者陈述他看到的一切。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá yāoqiú mùjīzhě chénshù tā kàndào de yíqiè.
  • English: The police asked the witness to state everything he saw.
  • Analysis: A classic legal/official context. The police are not asking for a casual story, but a formal account for the record.
• Example 2:
  • 在法庭上，律师开始陈述案件的事实。
  • Pinyin: Zài fǎtíng shàng, lǜshī kāishǐ chénshù ànjiàn de shìshí.
  • English: In the courtroom, the lawyer began to state the facts of the case.
  • Analysis: This highlights the formal, procedural nature of “陈述” in a legal setting.
• Example 3:
  • 请你简要地陈述一下你的主要观点。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng nǐ jiǎnyào de chénshù yíxià nǐ de zhǔyào guāndiǎn.
  • English: Please briefly state your main points.
  • Analysis: This is common in a formal meeting, debate, or academic discussion. It's a request for a structured summary of one's position.
• Example 4:
  • 他的陈述充满了矛盾，我们无法相信。
  • Pinyin: Tā de chénshù chōngmǎnle máodùn, wǒmen wúfǎ xiāngxìn.
  • English: His statement was full of contradictions; we couldn't believe it.
  • Analysis: Here, “陈述” is used as a noun, referring to the formal account or testimony that was given.
• Example 5:
  • 每个团队有五分钟的时间来陈述自己的商业计划。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge tuánduì yǒu wǔ fēnzhōng de shíjiān lái chénshù zìjǐ de shāngyè jìhuà.
  • English: Each team has five minutes to present (state) their business plan.
  • Analysis: A typical business context. It implies a formal presentation, not just a casual chat about ideas.
• Example 6:
  • 受害者向记者陈述了事情的经过。
  • Pinyin: Shòuhàizhě xiàng jìzhě chénshù le shìqing de jīngguò.
  • English: The victim recounted the course of events to the reporter.
  • Analysis: While “recounted” or “narrated” works in English, “陈述” in Chinese implies that the victim was giving a serious, factual account, likely for a news report.
• Example 7:
  • 在报告中，他客观地陈述了所有的研究数据。
  • Pinyin: Zài bàogào zhōng, tā kèguān de chénshù le suǒyǒu de yánjiū shùjù.
  • English: In the report, he objectively stated all the research data.
  • Analysis: This emphasizes the objective, fact-based nature of “陈述”. It's about presenting information without bias.
• Example 8:
  • 这份书面陈述将作为重要的证据。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn shūmiàn chénshù jiāng zuòwéi zhòngyào de zhèngjù.
  • English: This written statement will serve as important evidence.
  • Analysis: Using “陈述” as a noun again, this time specifying a written document, common in legal and official proceedings.
• Example 9:
  • 会议主席请反对者陈述他们的理由。
  • Pinyin: Huìyì zhǔxí qǐng fǎnduìzhě chénshù tāmen de lǐyóu.
  • English: The conference chairman asked the objectors to state their reasons.
  • Analysis: This shows its use in formal debates or meetings, where structured arguments are expected.
• Example 10:
  • 你必须如实陈述，不能隐瞒任何细节。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū rúshí chénshù, bùnéng yǐnmán rènhé xìjié.
  • English: You must state the facts truthfully and cannot hide any details.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly captures the essence of “陈述”—a truthful, detailed, and complete account.

The most common mistake for learners is using “陈述” in casual, everyday situations where “说 (shuō)” or “告诉 (gàosù)” would be appropriate.

• 陈述 (chénshù): To state formally. High formality, implies a structured, detailed account for an official or serious purpose.
• 说 (shuō): To say, to speak. The most general and common verb. Can be used in almost any situation.
• 告诉 (gàosù): To tell. Implies a specific recipient of the information (e.g., I tell you).

Incorrect Usage Example:

• Incorrect: 我陈述了我的朋友今天我迟到了。 (Wǒ chénshù le wǒ de péngyou jīntiān wǒ chídào le.)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds overly dramatic and bureaucratic, like you're filing an official report to your friend about being late. The situation is informal.
• Correct: 我告诉我的朋友我今天迟到了。 (Wǒ gàosù wǒ de péngyou wǒ jīntiān chídào le.) OR 我跟朋友说我今天迟到了。(Wǒ gēn péngyou shuō wǒ jīntiān chídào le.)

Think of it this way: You 说 hello, you 告诉 a friend a secret, but you 陈述 your case in court.

• 说明 (shuōmíng) - To explain, to illustrate. Focuses on making something clear and understandable, often by providing reasons or examples.
• 描述 (miáoshù) - To describe. Focuses on painting a picture with words, detailing appearances, sounds, and other sensory information.
• 叙述 (xùshù) - To narrate, to recount. Similar to `陈述` but emphasizes the storytelling aspect or chronological order of events. It can be less formal.
• 声明 (shēngmíng) - To declare; a public statement. More about announcing a position or decision to a wide audience, like a government issuing a statement.
• 报告 (bàogào) - To report; a report (noun). A `报告` is often the document or presentation that contains a formal `陈述`.
• 表达 (biǎodá) - To express. A broader term for conveying any kind of thought, feeling, or idea. It is more personal than `陈述`.
• 证词 (zhèngcí) - Testimony. The specific legal term for a statement given by a witness in court, which is a type of `陈述`.
• 交代 (jiāodài) - To confess, to explain, to hand over. Can mean to give an account of events, sometimes under pressure (like a confession).