Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
揀jiǎn(jian3)
The character 揀 (jiǎn) means 'to choose' or 'to select' and is commonly used when referring to making a selection from a group of items. It can also imply gathering or picking up objects. This word is often used in contexts such as shopping or choosing options.
Strokes12Radical扌Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese markets, the act of 揀 is culturally significant as shoppers often take their time to select the freshest produce, reflecting the value placed on quality and personal choice in daily life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person at a market, carefully selecting the best fruits. The character 揀 looks like a hand (扌) picking (拣) something up. The pronunciation 'jiǎn' can remind you of 'gathering' choices.
Meanings of 揀
jiǎn(jian3)
1to choose, to select; to gather, to pick up
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 揀
揀Simplified
12Strokes
扌Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 揀
Podcast: 揀
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 揀
Quick Contrast
挑 (tiāo) - use 揀 when referring to making a careful selection, while 挑 implies a more casual or picky choice.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person at a market, carefully selecting the best fruits. The character 揀 looks like a hand (扌) picking (拣) something up. The pronunciation 'jiǎn' can remind you of 'gathering' choices.
Usage Notes
Students often confuse 揀 with 拣 (jiǎn), which is a simplified form used in mainland China. This character is more formal and may be found in written texts. Be cautious with tone; ensure you pronounce it with the third tone (jiǎn).
HSK Study Tips
Although 揀 is not in the official HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK 3 and above who are expanding their vocabulary related to shopping and decision-making. Focus on practicing with verbs that express choice.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese markets, the act of 揀 is culturally significant as shoppers often take their time to select the freshest produce, reflecting the value placed on quality and personal choice in daily life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse the character 揀 with its simplified form 拣. For example, writing '我在市场拣水果' instead of '我在市场揀水果' when they mean to use the traditional form can lead to misunderstandings in context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 揀
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 揀 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 揀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 揀
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese markets, the act of 揀 is culturally significant as shoppers often take their time to select the freshest produce, reflecting the value placed on quality and personal choice in daily life.
Word Family of 揀
Words Containing This Character4
拣jiǎnto choose揀
挑三拣四to be picky挑三揀四
挑拣to select挑揀
拣选to select揀選
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 拣 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 揀
Both characters mean 'to choose' or 'to select', but 揀 is the traditional form while 拣 is the simplified version used in mainland China.
Yes, you can say '我在超市揀水果' (I am choosing fruits at the supermarket).
揀 is more formal and is often found in written Chinese, while 拣 is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
