Definition
拣 (jiǎn) means both 'to pick/choose' (by sorting through items) and 'to pick up' (from the ground). The near‑synonym 捡 (jiǎn, HSK5) only means 'to pick up' (dropped objects) — 拣 adds the sense of selection or sorting, e.g., choosing clothes from a pile. For picking up a fallen object, 拣 and 捡 overlap; 拾 (shí, HSK6) is a more literary/formal alternative.
verb
to pickto choose (from a group, often with care or by sorting)to pick up (something from the ground)
Easily confused
- 抛pāolook-aliketo throw, to toss, to fling
- 见jiànsound-aliketo see; to meet
- 搀chānlook-aliketo take by the arm and assist (e.g., an elderly or injured person)
- 件jiànsound-alike(classifier) for items of clothing, objects, and matters
- 报bàolook-aliketo report, to announce
- 间jiānsound-alike(classifier) for rooms, offices, and other enclosed spaces
- 扬yánglook-aliketo raise, to lift up
- 建jiànsound-aliketo build, to establish, to construct
- 扣kòulook-alike(verb) to deduct (money), to withhold
- 剑jiànsound-alikedouble-edged sword
Examples
- 拣。Nǐ jiǎn jǐ jiàn gānjìng de yīfu dài zǒu.Pick a few clean clothes to take with you.
- 拣。Tā bǎ làn le de càiyè jiǎn chūlái diūdiào.She picked out the rotten leaves and threw them away.
- ，拣。Dìshang yǒu zhāng chāopiào, tā wānyāo jiǎn le qǐlái.There was a banknote on the ground, he bent down and picked it up.
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