选 meaning and stroke order
To choose; to pick; to select
How to write 选, 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 选
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to choose
- to pick
- to select
- to elect
How 选 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Walk.
辶 gives the meaning and 先 hints at the sound.
Radical: 辶 (to walk), shared by 131 characters on this site.
How to remember 选
选 is built from 辶 (walk) and 先 (xiān, first), which hints at the sound. Picture yourself walking up first to pick what you want before anyone else.
选 (xuǎn) means to choose or to elect, and it often appears in compounds like 选择 (xuǎnzé) and 选举 (xuǎnjǔ). On its own it works as a simple verb for picking something. Example: 你选哪个？(Nǐ xuǎn nǎge?) Which one are you choosing?
Common mistake: Learners sometimes write the top part as 失 or 生 instead of 先, or forget that 辶 wraps under the whole component. Also keep the third tone: xuǎn, not xuān.
Common words with 选
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 选手 | xuǎnshǒu | athlete; contestant | HSK 3 |
| 选择 | xuǎnzé | to select; to pick; choice; option; alternative | HSK 4 |
| 挑选 | tiāoxuǎn | to choose; to select | HSK 4 |
| 当选 | dāngxuǎn | to be elected; to be selected | HSK 5 |
| 选修 | xuǎnxiū | (at a school) to take as an elective; an elective | HSK 5 |
| 选举 | xuǎnjǔ | to elect; election | HSK 6 |
| 选拔 | xuǎnbá | to select the best | HSK 6 |
| 评选 | píngxuǎn | to select on the basis of a vote or consensus | HSK 6 |
| 竞选 | jìngxuǎn | to take part in an election; to run for office | HSK 7-9 |
| 候选人 | hòuxuǎnrén | candidate | HSK 7-9 |
| 人选 | rénxuǎn | choice of person; candidate | HSK 7-9 |
| 选民 | xuǎnmín | voter; constituency | HSK 7-9 |
| 选项 | xuǎnxiàng | option; alternative; choice; to choose a project | HSK 7-9 |
| 大选 | dàxuǎn | general election | HSK 7-9 |
选 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 选
How many strokes are in 选?
选 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 选 mean?
选 (xuǎn) means to choose; to pick; to select. A common word with it is 选手 (xuǎnshǒu), meaning "athlete; contestant".
How do you pronounce 选?
选 is pronounced xuǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 选?
The radical of 选 is 辶, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 选 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 选?
The traditional form of 选 is 選. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 选 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 选 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 选 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 选 and 选择?
Both mean to choose. 选 is short and casual, common in speech for quick picks. 选择 (xuǎnzé) sounds more complete or formal and can also be a noun meaning a choice or option.
How do you say to vote or to be elected with 选?
Use 选举 (xuǎnjǔ) for elections in general and 当选 (dāngxuǎn) for being elected. For example, 他当选了主席 (tā dāngxuǎn le zhǔxí) means he was elected chairman.