选 xuǎn to select
to select; to elect
How to remember 选: 辶 road + 先 first = to select. At the fork in the road, the taxi driver first turns to his passenger, and she has three seconds to select a way.
Component breakdown
选 = 辶 road + 先 first
- 辶 road
- 先 first
- 𠂒 calf
- 儿 son
At the fork in the road, the taxi driver first turns to his passenger, and she has three seconds to select a way.
How it is used
- Core sense: to pick or elect - 选择 (xuǎnzé) to choose, 挑选 (tiāoxuǎn) to pick out from options.
- In formal/electoral contexts: 当选 (dāngxuǎn) to be elected, 入选 (rùxuǎn) to be selected onto a list/team.
- Academic use: 选修 (xuǎnxiū) to take a course as an elective (vs. 必修 required).
- 选 is picking from choices; 择 (zé) overlaps but is more literary and rarely stands alone.
Words with 选
- 选择xuǎnzéselectHSK 3
- 挑选tiāoxuǎnto chooseHSK 5
- 选手xuǎnshǒuathleteHSK 5
- 入选rùxuǎnto be included among those selected forHSK 6
- 当选dāngxuǎnto be electedHSK 6
- 筛选shāixuǎnto filterHSK 6
- 评选píngxuǎnto select on the basis of a vote or consensusHSK 6
- 选修xuǎnxiūto take as an electiveHSK 6
- 选拔xuǎnbáto select the bestHSK 6
- 人选rénxuǎnchoice of personHSK 7
- 候选人hòuxuǎnréncandidateHSK 7
- 推选tuīxuǎnto electHSK 7
- 竞选jìngxuǎnto take part in an electionHSK 7
- 选举xuǎnjǔto electHSK 7
- 选民xuǎnmínvoterHSK 7
- 选用xuǎnyòngto choose for some purposeHSK 7
- 选项xuǎnxiàngoptionHSK 9
Example sentences
- 6号超过了所有的选手。 Liù hào chāoguòle suǒyǒude xuǎnshǒu.No. 6 has taken the lead over all the other contestants.
- 还不知道选举的结果。 Hái bù zhīdào xuǎnjǔ de jiéguǒ.We don't know the election results yet.
- 他选择了否定的答案。 Tā xuǎnzéle fǒudìng de dá'àn.He's chosen the negative response.
- 超市里的食品可以任顾客挑选。 Chāoshì lǐ de shípǐn kěyǐ rèn gùkè tiāoxuǎn.Customers can select any of the foods in the supermarket they wish to.