unknown, 10 strokes, radical 刂, rank #18717, Very Hard
剔
tī
to pick (teeth etc)
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 刂, rank #18717, Very Hard
剔
tī
to weed out
unknown, 10 strokes, radical 刂, rank #18717, Very Hard
tī(ti1)ti T1
1pick (as teeth)
2to pick out; to scrape off; picky
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March 24, 2026
剔tī(ti1)
The character '剔' (tī) primarily means to pick or scrape something out, often referring to the act of cleaning teeth or removing meat from bones. It is used in contexts where precision and careful selection are involved, such as weeding out undesirable elements or being picky about choices.
Strokes10Radical刂Frequency#18717DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
'剔' is often used in culinary contexts, particularly in regions known for their intricate food preparation methods, such as Sichuan cuisine, where attention to detail is crucial in dish presentation and flavor extraction.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small, precise tool that scrapes away at stubborn bits of food stuck between teeth. The character '剔' resembles a knife (刀) combined with the action of picking (the radical '扌' suggests hand movements), making it easy to remember that it involves scraping or picking away at something.
Meanings of 剔
tī(ti1)
1pick (as teeth)
2to pick out; to scrape off; picky
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 剔 means.
About 剔
剔Simplified
10Strokes
刂Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#18717Frequency Rank
Podcast: 剔
Podcast: 剔
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AI Study Notes for 剔
Quick Contrast
剔 (tī) vs 挑 (tiāo) — use 剔 when referring to scraping or cleaning out, while 挑 implies selecting or picking out with a focus on choice.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse '剔' with similar characters like '挑' (tiāo), which means to pick or choose. This word is more formal and is typically used in written contexts or when discussing food preparation. Be mindful of the proper pronunciation, particularly the tone (first tone).
HSK Study Tips
Although '剔' is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other verbs related to actions of selection and removal. Focus on using it in conjunction with food-related vocabulary to enhance retention and contextual understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use '剔' in informal contexts, where '挑' (tiāo) or '拿' (ná) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我剔水果' (Wǒ tī shuǐguǒ - I pick fruit) should be corrected to '我挑水果' (Wǒ tiāo shuǐguǒ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 剔
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How Well Do You Know 剔?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 剔 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
剔 = 刂 + 易. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 剔
IDS Structure⿰易刂
剔Full Character
=
易Yi4
left
刂dao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 剔?
How to say pick (as teeth) in Chinese
“pick (as teeth)” in Chinese is剔tī
The character '剔' (tī) primarily means to pick or scrape something out, often referring to the act of cleaning teeth or removing meat from bones. It is used in contexts where precision and careful selection are involved, such as weeding out undesirable elements or being picky about choices.
When to use 剔
Learners often confuse '剔' with similar characters like '挑' (tiāo), which means to pick or choose. This word is more formal and is typically used in written contexts or when discussing food preparation. Be mindful of the proper pronunciation, particularly the tone (first tone).
剔 or something close to it
剔 (tī) vs 挑 (tiāo) — use 剔 when referring to scraping or cleaning out, while 挑 implies selecting or picking out with a focus on choice.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use '剔' in informal contexts, where '挑' (tiāo) or '拿' (ná) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我剔水果' (Wǒ tī shuǐguǒ - I pick fruit) should be corrected to '我挑水果' (Wǒ tiāo shuǐguǒ).
Write 剔
剔
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Practice writing 剔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 剔
剔 carries 5 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
把好的苹果挑出来,把坏的____出去.
Choose the good apples and reject the bad ones.
Example Sentences for 剔 (10)
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1
把好的苹果挑出来,把坏的剔出去.
bǎ hǎo de píng guǒ tiāo chū lái, , bǎ huài de tī chū.
