剔 (tī) - To pick out & to remove

剔Tone 1

tī ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

剔 · tī

To pick out;

to remove;

to scrape clean;

to carve;

to pick (teeth, bones);

to eliminate.

To pick outto removeto scrape clean

Usage highlights

Pick teethRemove bonesEliminate dross and select the essentialScrape cleanPick outCarve patterns

Synonyms

  • 挑— to pick; to select
  • 挖— to dig out
  • 刮— to scrape

Antonyms

  • 填— to fill
  • 补— to supplement; to repair
  • 塞— to stuff; to block

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The dentist advised me to floss and pick my teeth (剔牙) daily.
  • The chef carefully removed the bones from the fish (剔骨头).
  • We need to eliminate the bad elements from the team (剔除不良分子).
  • The artist carved the design intricately (剔刻).

Collocations

  • Pick teeth(剔牙)
  • Remove bones(剔骨)
  • Eliminate dross and select the essential(剔抉)
  • Scrape clean(剔刮)
  • Pick out(剔出)
  • Carve patterns(剔花)

Idioms

  • Pick out faults and criticize shortcomings(剔瑕蹈隙)
  • Clear away the rotten and bring forth the fresh(剔腐生新)
  • Pick out the flaws(挑剔毛病)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 剔 originally depicted the action of carving bones with a knife, relating to ancient culinary and craft practices.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine and diet, '剔骨' (removing bones) is an important food preparation technique.
  • The character carries a connotation of precision and meticulousness, often used in contexts requiring careful selection or removal.

FAQ