选

選
xuǎn
#499 most
frequent character
choose, select, pick
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

选 pairs 辶 'movement' or 'walking a road' with 先 xiān, which gives the sound. It first meant 'to send back' or 'exile.' The meaning grew to 'send out on a mission', then 'to choose; selection' and 'to elect; election.'

Ask DeepSeek

Example Sentences

我想选一个礼物。
wǒxiǎng xuǎn yígè lǐwù 。
I want to choose a gift.
请你选一个你喜欢的颜色。
qǐng nǐ xuǎn yígè nǐ xǐhuān de yánsè 。
Please choose a color you like.
他们在选班长。
tāmen zài xuǎn bānzhǎng 。
They are selecting the class monitor.

Words with similar meanings

挑tiāo
pick
More casual and often implies a careful or selective choice.
选择xuǎnzé
select
More formal and emphasizes the act of making a choice among options.

Words Starting With 选

选择xuǎn zé
to select; to pick; choice; option; alternative
选举xuǎn jǔ
"to elect; election
选手xuǎn shǒu
athlete; contestant
选拔xuǎn bá
to select the best

Your word lists

Sign in to add this word to your private lists.