What is the main meaning of 拺?

The primary meanings are to select/choose and to rub/sharpened, combining the ideas of careful selection and physical action.

Is 拺 commonly used in modern Chinese?

No, this is a relatively rare character in modern usage, more commonly found in classical texts or specialized contexts.

How is 拺 different from 选?

While both mean 'to select', 拺 often implies a more careful, deliberate process of picking out, sometimes with physical action like rubbing or polishing, whereas 选 is more general for choosing.

拺Tone 4

cè ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

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拺 · cè

To select, choose;

to pick out;

to arrange;

to sort;

to rub, scrub;

to sharpen.

To select, chooseto pick outto arrange

Usage highlights

To select and chooseTo pick outTo sharpen a knifeTo scrub cleanTo arrange itemsTo sort goods

Synonyms

选— to select, choose
择— to choose, select
挑— to pick, select
拣— to choose, pick out

Antonyms

弃— to abandon, discard
丢— to throw away, lose

Usage & contexts

Examples

He selected the best fruits (拺选水果).
She sharpened the pencil (拺铅笔).
They arranged the books by category (拺书分类).
He scrubbed the floor clean (拺地板).

Collocations

To select and choose(拺选)
To pick out(拺出)
To sharpen a knife(拺刀)
To scrub clean(拺净)
To arrange items(拺物)
To sort goods(拺货)

Idioms

Carefully selected and chosen(精拺细选)
Selected from many(百里拺一)
Selected and arranged(拺排有序)

Cultural background

FAQ

This character appears in classical texts with meanings related to selection and arrangement.
The character combines the hand radical (扌) with 朿, suggesting the action of picking or selecting with care.
In historical contexts, it was used for processes involving careful choice and organization.

拺 (cè) - To select, choose & to pick out