挑 meaning and stroke order
To carry on a shoulder pole; to choose; to pick
How to write 挑, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Meaning of 挑
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to carry on a shoulder pole
- to choose
- to pick
- to nitpick
- to raise
- to dig up
- to poke
- to prick
- to incite
- to stir up
How 挑 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 兆 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 挑
挑 is a hand 扌 next to 兆 (zhào), which gives the sound. Picture your hand reaching out to pick the best item from a pile, or lifting a shoulder pole to carry a load.
As tiāo it means to choose or to carry with a shoulder pole, as in 挑选 (tiāoxuǎn) and 挑剔 (tiāoti, picky). As tiǎo it means to stir up or provoke, as in 挑战 (tiǎozhàn) and 挑衅 (tiǎoxìn). Example: 你自己挑一个吧。(Nǐ zìjǐ tiāo yí ge ba.) Pick one yourself.
Common mistake: Learners often say 挑战 with a first tone. It is tiǎozhàn with a third tone, because it means to stir up a fight, not to choose. Also do not confuse 挑 with 桃 (táo, peach) or 跳 (tiào, to jump), which share the 兆 part but have different radicals.
Common words with 挑
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 挑战 | tiǎozhàn | to challenge; to take on a challenge; a challenge | HSK 4 |
| 挑选 | tiāoxuǎn | to choose; to select | HSK 4 |
| 挑剔 | tiāoti | picky; fussy | HSK 7-9 |
| 挑起 | tiǎoqǐ | to provoke; to stir up | HSK 7-9 |
| 挑衅 | tiǎoxìn | to provoke; provocation | HSK 7-9 |
| 挑逗 | tiǎodòu | to provoke; to entice | |
| 单挑 | dāntiǎo | to pick; to choose | |
| 挑战者 | tiǎozhànzhě | challenger | |
| 无可挑剔 | wúkětiāoti | excellent in every respect; flawless | |
| 挑明 | tiǎomíng | to illuminate; to open up (a topic) | |
| 挑拨 | tiǎobō | to incite disharmony; to instigate |
挑 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 挑
How many strokes are in 挑?
挑 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 挑 mean?
挑 (tiāo) means to carry on a shoulder pole; to choose; to pick. A common word with it is 挑战 (tiǎozhàn), meaning "to challenge; to take on a challenge; a challenge".
How do you pronounce 挑?
挑 is pronounced tiāo, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 挑?
The radical of 挑 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 挑 under this radical.
Is 挑 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 挑 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
How do I know whether 挑 is read tiāo or tiǎo?
Think about the meaning. If it is about choosing or carrying, use tiāo, as in 挑选 and 挑剔. If it is about raising, poking, or provoking, use tiǎo, as in 挑战, 挑起 and 挑衅.
What is the difference between 挑 and 选 for choosing?
Both mean to choose, and they combine in 挑选 (tiāoxuǎn). 挑 is more casual and suggests picking carefully from many items, like fruit at a market. 选 (xuǎn) is more general and also covers formal choices like voting, as in 选举 (xuǎnjǔ).