Meaning of 挑选
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to choose
- to select
How to use 挑选
挑选 means to carefully pick out the best from many options, often physical things like fruit, clothes or people for a team. It feels more hands-on and careful than 选择 (xuǎnzé). Example: 她在市场挑选新鲜的水果。(Tā zài shìchǎng tiāoxuǎn xīnxiān de shuǐguǒ.) She is picking out fresh fruit at the market.
挑 (tiāo) has the hand radical 扌, so picture your hand picking through a pile. 选 (xuǎn) has the walking radical 辶, so imagine walking along the shelves to find the best one.
Common mistake: Learners often read 挑 here with the third tone, as in 挑战 (tiǎozhàn). In 挑选 it is first tone, tiāo, the same as in 挑 meaning to pick.
挑选 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
挑 tiāo · to carry on a shoulder pole · 9 strokes
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选 xuǎn · to choose · 9 strokes
- 1
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Related words
Words that share a character with 挑选.
| 选手 | xuǎnshǒu | athlete; contestant |
| 选择 | xuǎnzé | to select; to pick; choice; option; alternative |
| 挑战 | tiǎozhàn | to challenge; to take on a challenge; a challenge |
| 当选 | dāngxuǎn | to be elected; to be selected |
| 选修 | xuǎnxiū | (at a school) to take as an elective; an elective |
| 选举 | xuǎnjǔ | to elect; election |
| 选拔 | xuǎnbá | to select the best |
| 评选 | píngxuǎn | to select on the basis of a vote or consensus |
| 竞选 | jìngxuǎn | to take part in an election; to run for office |
| 候选人 | hòuxuǎnrén | candidate |
| 人选 | rénxuǎn | choice of person; candidate |
| 挑剔 | tiāoti | picky; fussy |
Questions about 挑选
What does 挑选 mean?
挑选 (tiāoxuǎn) means "to choose; to select" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 挑选?
挑选 is made of 2 characters: 挑 (9 strokes), 选 (9 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 挑选 an HSK word?
Yes. 挑选 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 挑选 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 挑选 is written 挑選.
What is the difference between 挑选 and 选择?
选择 (xuǎnzé) is a general word for choosing, and it can also be a noun meaning a choice. 挑选 is only a verb and stresses carefully comparing many items to pick good ones. You would say 做出选择 (make a choice), not 做出挑选.
Can I just say 挑 instead of 挑选?
Yes, in casual speech 挑 (tiāo) alone works well, as in 你挑一个吧 (Nǐ tiāo yí ge ba), Pick one. 挑选 sounds a bit more complete and slightly more formal.