拣 (jiǎn) - To choose & to select

拣Tone 3

jiǎn ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 扌

嘉健

拣 · jiǎn

To choose;

to select;

to pick out;

to sort.

To chooseto selectto pick out

Usage highlights

To chooseTo pick vegetablesTo sort outTo pick and chooseTo select carefullyTo pick up things

Synonyms

  • 选— to select; to choose
  • 挑— to pick; to choose
  • 择— to select; to choose

Antonyms

  • 弃— to abandon; to discard
  • 扔— to throw away

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Please choose the best one (拣最好的).
  • He is picking vegetables at the market (拣菜).
  • We need to select qualified candidates (拣选合格人选).
  • She is sorting through old clothes (拣旧衣服).

Collocations

  • To choose(拣选)
  • To pick vegetables(拣菜)
  • To sort out(拣出)
  • To pick and choose(挑拣)
  • To select carefully(精拣)
  • To pick up things(拣东西)

Idioms

  • To pick and choose(挑三拣四)
  • To pick up gold(拣金)
  • To choose the good ones(拣好的)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant 'to sort' or 'to pick out', especially in the context of selecting grains or valuable items.
  • In modern usage, often carries the connotation of careful selection or discrimination.
  • Commonly used in both literal (picking objects) and figurative (making choices) contexts.

FAQ