选修 meaning in English
(at a school) to take as an elective; an elective
Meaning of 选修
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- (at a school) to take as an elective
- an elective
- elective (subject)
How to use 选修
选修 is used as a verb for signing up for an optional course, and it also appears before nouns like 课 (kè) to mean elective. It often contrasts with 必修 (bìxiū), required. Example: 我这学期选修了日语。(Wǒ zhè xuéqī xuǎnxiū le Rìyǔ.) I am taking Japanese as an elective this semester.
选 (xuǎn) means to choose, as in 选择 (xuǎnzé), and 修 (xiū) means to study or cultivate a subject. Put them together: a course you choose to study is an elective.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes use 选修 for any choice, like picking a dish or a gift, but it only refers to choosing courses. For general choosing, use 选择 (xuǎnzé) or 挑选 (tiāoxuǎn).
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
选 xuǎn · to choose · 9 strokes
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修 xiū · to decorate · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 选修.
| 选手 | xuǎnshǒu | athlete; contestant |
| 修改 | xiūgǎi | to amend; to alter |
| 选择 | xuǎnzé | to select; to pick; choice; option; alternative |
| 修理 | xiūlǐ | to repair; to fix |
| 挑选 | tiāoxuǎn | to choose; to select |
| 装修 | zhuāngxiū | to decorate; interior decoration |
| 维修 | wéixiū | maintenance (of equipment); to protect and maintain |
| 修复 | xiūfù | to restore; to renovate; (computing) to repair (a corrupted file etc) |
| 当选 | dāngxuǎn | to be elected; to be selected |
| 修建 | xiūjiàn | to build; to construct |
| 修养 | xiūyǎng | accomplishment; training |
| 选举 | xuǎnjǔ | to elect; election |
Questions about 选修
What does 选修 mean?
选修 (xuǎnxiū) means "(at a school) to take as an elective; an elective" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 选修?
选修 is made of 2 characters: 选 (9 strokes), 修 (9 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 选修 an HSK word?
Yes. 选修 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 选修 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 选修 is written 選修.
What is the opposite of 选修?
The opposite is 必修 (bìxiū), which means a required or compulsory course. You will often see 必修课 (bìxiūkè) and 选修课 (xuǎnxiūkè) side by side on a school timetable.
Can I say 选修课 and 选修 interchangeably?
Not always. 选修 alone is usually the verb, as in 选修一门课 (xuǎnxiū yì mén kè), to take an elective. When you mean the course itself, 选修课 (xuǎnxiūkè) is clearer and more natural.