选案 (xuǎn àn) — to select a case (for investigation, review, or legal hearing)

Definition

A formal legal/procedural verb meaning to select a case for review or investigation. Typically used of courts, audit bodies, or regulatory departments triaging incoming cases.

verb
to select a case (for investigation, review, or legal hearing)

Examples

  • 选案，。
    Fǎ yuàn měi nián dōu huì xuǎn àn, yōu xiān chǔ lǐ zhòng dà àn jiàn.
    The court selects cases every year, prioritizing major cases.
  • 选案，。
    Shěn jì bù mén xuǎn àn hòu, kāi shǐ diào chá zhè jiā gōng sī.
    After the audit department selected the case, they began investigating this company.
  • 选案？
    xuǎn àn De biāo zhǔn shì shén me?
    What are the criteria for case selection?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

选xuǎnselect
案àncase

选 (select) and 案 (case) combine to mean selecting a case.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 選; 选 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
巽
巽xùn選xuǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 選 combines 止 with 巽, which gives the sound xùn; its sense of choosing is explained as rejecting or sending someone back. Simplified 选 is a shorthand.

Open 选 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
安
安ān案àn
Same sound today

案 pairs 木, a wood/tree shape, with 安, which is used for its sound.

Open 案 →

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