擇 (zé) - choose, select, pick & to make a choice from among alternatives.

擇Tone 2

zé ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

悦丈

擇 · zé

choose, select, pick;

to make a choice from among alternatives.

choose, select, pickto make a choice from among alternatives.

Usage highlights

choose a spousechoose a professionnatural selectionchoose carefullyhave no choicechoose between options

Synonyms

  • 选— select, choose
  • 挑— pick, choose
  • 拣— pick out, select

Antonyms

  • 弃— abandon, discard
  • 舍— give up, relinquish

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • You must choose one option (择一).
  • He is very selective about his friends (择友).
  • The bird selects its branch to perch on (择木而栖).
  • We need to choose a good school for the child (择校).

Collocations

  • choose a spouse(择偶)
  • choose a profession(择业)
  • natural selection(自然选择)
  • choose carefully(择善而从)
  • have no choice(别无选择)
  • choose between options(抉择)

Idioms

  • Choose the good and follow it(择善而从)
  • Hungry, not picky about food; urgent, not choosing the right path(饥不择食，慌不择路)
  • A bird selects its tree to perch on (a person chooses his master to serve)(择木而栖)
  • Unable to choose between two options(不择手段)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character embodies the Confucian value of making deliberate, virtuous choices.
  • In traditional thought, '择' implies moral discernment, not just arbitrary selection.
  • The concept is central to many proverbs about life decisions and relationships.

FAQ