揀 meaning and stroke order
To choose, to select; to gather, to pick up
How to write 揀, stroke by stroke
12 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 揀
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to choose
- to pick
- to sort out
- to pick up
How 揀 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 柬 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 揀
The hand 扌 on the left does the work, and 柬 (jiǎn) on the right gives the sound. Picture a hand sorting through a bundle and picking out the good pieces.
揀 (jiǎn) means to pick or choose, and also to pick something up from the ground. It is the traditional form of 拣, and it is common in Cantonese and in Taiwan. Example: 揀一個你喜歡的。(Jiǎn yí ge nǐ xǐhuan de.) Pick one you like.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 揀 with 練 (liàn, to practice) and 煉 (liàn, to refine). They share the right side 柬 but have different radicals and sounds. Also do not mix it up with 撿 (jiǎn, to pick up), which has the same sound but a different right side, 僉.
Questions about 揀
How many strokes are in 揀?
揀 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 揀 mean?
揀 (jiǎn) means to choose, to select; to gather, to pick up.
How do you pronounce 揀?
揀 is pronounced jiǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 揀?
The radical of 揀 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 揀 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 揀?
揀 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 拣, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 揀 and 撿?
Both are read jiǎn. 撿 mainly means to pick something up, as in 撿錢 (jiǎn qián, pick up money). 揀 leans toward choosing or sorting, though it can also mean to pick up.
Is 揀 used in everyday Mandarin?
In mainland Mandarin people usually say 挑 (tiāo) or 選 (xuǎn) for choosing, so 揀 sounds a bit regional or colloquial. In Cantonese, 揀 (gaan2) is the normal everyday word for to choose.