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挑选 (tiāo xuǎn) — to choose, to select

Definition

挑选 emphasizes careful, deliberate choosing, often from many options — more discriminating than 选择 or 选 (both neutral 'to choose'). Common for shopping, food, and people.

verb
to chooseto select

Examples

  • 挑选。
    Tā tiāo xuǎn le yí gè hóng sè de shū bāo.
    She chose a red schoolbag.
  • 挑选，。
    Qǐng zǐ xì tiāo xuǎn, bú yào zháo jí.
    Please choose carefully, don't be in a hurry.
  • 挑选。
    Cóng zhè xiē shuǐ guǒ lǐ tiāo xuǎn nǐ xǐ huan de ba.
    Pick your favorite from these fruits.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

挑tiāochoose
选xuǎnselect

“挑” (choose) and “选” (select) both mean choosing, emphasizing careful selection.

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.

Open 挑 →

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 →
Appears in
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