抉 meaning and stroke order
To select, to choose; to pluck, to gouge
How to write 抉, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 抉
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to pick out
- to single out
How 抉 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To choose 夬 by hand 扌; 夬 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 抉
The hand radical 扌 sits next to 夬 (guài), so picture a hand reaching in to pick out one thing from many. 夬 also hints at the sound, as in 决 (jué) and 诀 (jué).
抉 rarely appears alone in modern Chinese and is mostly met in the word 抉择 (juézé), a formal word for a serious or difficult choice. Example: 这是一个艰难的抉择。(Zhè shì yí gè jiānnán de juézé.) This is a difficult choice.
Common mistake: Learners often write 决择 with 决 (jué, to decide) instead of 抉择, because the two share the same sound and the right side 夬. Remember that choosing is done by hand, so 抉择 takes the hand radical 扌.
Common words with 抉
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 抉择 | juézé | to choose (literary) |
抉 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 抉
How many strokes are in 抉?
抉 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 抉 mean?
抉 (jué) means to select, to choose; to pluck, to gouge. A common word with it is 抉择 (juézé), meaning "to choose (literary)".
How do you pronounce 抉?
抉 is pronounced jué, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 抉?
The radical of 抉 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 抉 under this radical.
What is the difference between 抉择 and 选择?
选择 (xuǎnzé) is the everyday word for any choice, big or small. 抉择 is more formal and is used for weighty decisions, such as life choices or moral dilemmas.
Does 抉 have any meaning besides choosing?
Yes, it can also mean to pluck or gouge out, a sense found mainly in classical or literary texts. In modern speech you will almost only see it in 抉择.