择 meaning and stroke order
To select, to choose
How to write 择, stroke by stroke
8 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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- 8
Meaning of 择
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to select
- to choose
- to pick over
- to pick out
- to differentiate
- to eliminate
How 择 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 择
择 has the hand radical 扌 on the left, so picture a hand reaching out to pick one thing from a pile. Choosing is something you do with your hand: you point, grab, and select.
择 (zé) rarely stands alone in modern speech. It mostly appears in set words like 选择 (xuǎnzé, to choose; choice) and 抉择 (juézé, a formal choice). Example: 你可以自己选择。(Nǐ kěyǐ zìjǐ xuǎnzé.) You can choose for yourself.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 择 (zé) with 泽 (zé, as in 沼泽 zhǎozé, marsh). They share the same right side and sound, but 择 uses the hand radical 扌 for choosing, while 泽 uses the water radical 氵 for wetlands.
Common words with 择
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
择 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 择
How many strokes are in 择?
择 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 择 mean?
择 (zé) means to select, to choose. A common word with it is 选择 (xuǎnzé), meaning "to select; to pick; choice; option; alternative".
How do you pronounce 择?
择 is pronounced zé, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 择?
The radical of 择 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 择 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 择?
The traditional form of 择 is 擇. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 择 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 择 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 择 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Does 择 have another pronunciation?
Yes. In everyday spoken words like 择菜 (zhái cài, to pick over vegetables), it is read zhái. The reading zé is used in formal and written words like 选择.
What does 不择手段 mean, and is it positive?
不择手段 (bù zé shǒuduàn) literally means not choosing your methods, so doing anything to reach a goal. It is negative and suggests using unfair or unethical means.