揀 (jiǎn) - To choose & to select

揀Tone 3

jiǎn ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

嘉健

揀 · jiǎn

To choose;

to select;

to pick out;

to sort.

To chooseto selectto pick out

Usage highlights

To chooseTo pick outTo select carefullyTo sort goodsTo choose the bestUnpicked/leftover

Synonyms

  • 选— to choose; to select
  • 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 sorting through the documents (拣选文件).
  • This task requires careful selection (需要仔细拣选).
  • Pick out the rotten fruits (拣出烂水果).

Collocations

  • To choose(拣选)
  • To pick out(拣出)
  • To select carefully(精拣)
  • To sort goods(拣货)
  • To choose the best(拣最好的)
  • Unpicked/leftover(拣剩的)

Idioms

  • To pick and choose(挑三拣四)
  • To pick out the fine and discard the coarse(拣精拣肥)
  • To pick the flowers by moonlight(披沙拣金)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character embodies the concept of discernment and making careful choices, valued in both practical and philosophical contexts.
  • Used in contexts ranging from everyday selection (e.g., shopping) to more abstract choices, reflecting a thoughtful process.
  • The hand radical (扌) emphasizes the active, manual aspect of selecting or picking.

FAQ