挑拣 (tiāo jiǎn) — to pick and choose (often with a connotation of… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

挑拣 (tiǎo jiǎn) means to pick and choose, usually with a negative sense of being fussy or overly selective — think 挑挑拣拣 or 挑三拣四. Unlike 挑选, which can be neutral, 挑拣 implies the person is being difficult about it.

verb

to pick and choose (often with a connotation of being overly selective or fussy)

Examples

挑拣，。
Tā mǎi dōng xī zǒng shì tiāo lái tiāo jiǎn qù, bàn tiān yě xuǎn bù hǎo.
She always picks and chooses when shopping, spending ages without deciding.
挑拣。
Lǎo bǎn bù xǐ huan yuán gōng zài fēn pèi rèn wu shí tiāo sān tiāo jiǎn sì.
The boss doesn't like employees who are picky when tasks are assigned.
，挑拣。
Zhè xiē cài yǐ jīng bú cuò le, bié tiāo jiǎn le.
These dishes are already good — don't pick and choose.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

挑 and 拣 both mean pick or select, together emphasizing careful choosing.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

兆

兆zhào挑tiāo

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

挑 has 手, meaning hand, and 兆, which gives the sound.

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 揀; 拣 is its simplified writing.

扌柬揀

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhands

Sound part声符shēngfú

柬

柬jiǎn揀jiǎn

Same sound today

The traditional form 揀 pairs 扌 (hands) with 柬, the part that matches its pronunciation; this describes 揀 rather than 拣.

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