撿 (jiǎn) - To pick up & to collect

撿Tone 3

jiǎn ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

嘉健

撿 · jiǎn

To pick up;

to collect;

to gather;

to find by chance.

To pick upto collectto gather

Usage highlights

Pick upPick up somethingCollect firewoodPick up trashFind moneyPick up a bargain

Synonyms

  • 拾— To pick up; to collect (more formal)
  • 收集— To collect; to gather

Antonyms

  • 丢— To lose; to throw away
  • 扔— To throw; to discard

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I picked up a coin on the street (捡到一枚硬币).
  • She collects firewood in the forest (捡柴火).
  • He found a wallet (捡到一个钱包).
  • We need to pick up the trash (我们需要捡垃圾).

Collocations

  • Pick up(捡起)
  • Pick up something(捡到)
  • Collect firewood(捡柴)
  • Pick up trash(捡垃圾)
  • Find money(捡钱)
  • Pick up a bargain(捡便宜)

Idioms

  • Picking up things others have lost (拾金不昧) - related concept of honesty in finding lost items
  • Finding a bargain unexpectedly(捡了便宜)
  • Gleaning wheat after harvest(捡麦穗)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character reflects values of frugality and making good use of resources.
  • In traditional contexts, '捡' often relates to gathering natural resources or finding unexpected value.
  • The act of '捡到钱' (finding money) carries cultural implications about luck and honesty.

FAQ