HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #9037, Very Hard
拣
jiǎn
to pick
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #9037, Very Hard
拣
jiǎn
to sort out
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #9037, Very Hard
拣
jiǎn
to pick up
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #9037, Very Hard
拣
jiǎn
to choose, to select; to gather, to pick up
HSK 7, v, 8 strokes, radical 扌, rank #9037, Very Hard
jiǎn(jian3) T3
1to choose
2to pick
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March 24, 2026
拣(揀)jiǎn(jian3)
The character 拣 (jiǎn) primarily means 'to choose' or 'to pick up'. It is commonly used in contexts where one is selecting items from a group or sorting through options, such as picking fruits or choosing clothes. The nuance includes a sense of deliberation in the selection process, indicating not just picking up randomly but making a considered choice.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#9037DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of picking and choosing is often tied to traditional practices, such as selecting the right ingredients for a meal or choosing auspicious dates for events, reflecting a deep-seated value placed on careful selection.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding a large hand (the radical 扌) while selecting different fruits (the component 拣 looks like a person picking). Picture them saying, 'I will choose the best one!' This visual of a hand picking signifies the act of choosing, helping you remember that 拣 means to choose or pick.
Meanings of 拣
jiǎn(jian3)
1to choose
2to pick
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 拣
拣Simplified
揀Traditional
8Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9037Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 拣
Podcast: 拣
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AI Study Notes for 拣
Quick Contrast
挑 (tiāo) — use 拣 (jiǎn) when emphasizing a careful choice, while 挑 (tiāo) often implies a selection based on preference or quality.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 拣 with 选 (xuǎn), which also means 'to choose' but implies a broader selection process rather than physically picking up. 拣 is more informal, often used in everyday speech, while 选 may be seen in more formal contexts. Note the tonal difference: remember to pronounce it with the third tone (jiǎn) to avoid confusion.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 拣 connects to other words that involve selection and categorization, such as 选择 (xuǎnzé, to choose) and 分类 (fēnlèi, to classify). Focus on using 拣 in context to enhance vocabulary regarding decision-making and sorting.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 拣 when talking about more abstract choices, where 选择 would be more appropriate. For instance, saying '我拣了这个方案' (I picked this plan) should be corrected to '我选择了这个方案' (I chose this plan).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 拣
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Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 柬 represents the sound. Simplified form of 揀.
1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
2The sound half柬 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhand
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 拣? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 拣?
Decomposition of 拣
IDS Structure⿰扌柬
拣Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
柬Jian3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 拣?
How to say to choose in Chinese
“to choose” in Chinese is拣jiǎn
The character 拣 (jiǎn) primarily means 'to choose' or 'to pick up'. It is commonly used in contexts where one is selecting items from a group or sorting through options, such as picking fruits or choosing clothes. The nuance includes a sense of deliberation in the selection process, indicating not just picking up randomly but making a considered choice.
When to use 拣
Learners often confuse 拣 with 选 (xuǎn), which also means 'to choose' but implies a broader selection process rather than physically picking up. 拣 is more informal, often used in everyday speech, while 选 may be seen in more formal contexts. Note the tonal difference: remember to pronounce it with the third tone (jiǎn) to avoid confusion.
拣 or something close to it
挑 (tiāo) — use 拣 (jiǎn) when emphasizing a careful choice, while 挑 (tiāo) often implies a selection based on preference or quality.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 拣 when talking about more abstract choices, where 选择 would be more appropriate. For instance, saying '我拣了这个方案' (I picked this plan) should be corrected to '我选择了这个方案' (I chose this plan).
Write 拣
拣
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Practice writing 拣 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 拣
拣 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我们患者不能对医生挑挑____拣。
We, the patients, cannot pick and choose our doctors.
