variant of 敘|叙[xu4]

Israel-Syria

to start a narrative at the end (or midway), then proceed chronologically from the beginning; to flash back; flashback (in a novel, movie etc)

Egypt-Syria

to introduce a text by citing documents or source material at the beginning

to speak tentatively

to take tea and chat; a small-scale informal gathering with tea and snacks

to narrate; narrative

to recount what happened prior to events already known

to explain all the details; complete narrative

to talk face-to-face

chronological narration

(idiom) (neutral) to narrate in a plain, unaffected manner; (mildly critical) to recount events in a flat, colorless style