续写 means 'to continue writing' — typically referring to extending an existing piece of writing, such as a story, essay, or article. The character 续 (xù) means 'to continue, to resume, or to extend', while 写 (xiě) means 'to write'. Together, they form a compound verb indicating the act of picking up where previous writing left off, often with coherence and stylistic consistency in mind.

This word is commonly used in educational, literary, and creative contexts — for example, when students are assigned to continue a story started by their teacher, or when an author resumes work on a novel after a break. It implies intentional continuation rather than casual note-taking or drafting. Unlike general verbs like 写 (to write) or 完成 (to complete), 续写 emphasizes continuity with prior content and structure, making it especially useful when discussing narrative development or collaborative writing projects.