挑

tiāo, tiǎo

兆 + 扌

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

tiāo (verb) to pick; to choose; to select

tiǎo (verb) to stir up; to provoke; to incite

tiāo (verb) to carry on shoulders with a pole

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 兆 represents the sound.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 兆

About

The character 挑 is a phonosemantic compound with dual pronunciations: tiāo (to choose, to carry on a shoulder pole) and tiǎo (to provoke, to incite). The hand radical 扌 indicates actions performed by hand: selecting items, picking things up, or hoisting goods to transport them with a pole. The right component 兆, originally a pictograph of cracks in a turtle shell used for divination, serves strictly as a phonetic. The metaphorical senses of stirring up trouble, challenging to a fight, or provoking a reaction all stem from the literal physical motion of poking or lifting something with a hand or tool.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈挑选新鲜的水果。

Māma tiāoxuǎn xīnxiān de shuǐguǒ.

Mom selects fresh fruits.

他挑了一件蓝色的衬衫。

Tā tiāole yī jiàn lánsè de chènshān.

He picked a blue shirt.

不要挑剔别人的缺点。

Bùyào tiāotī biérén de quēdiǎn.

Don't be critical of others' shortcomings.

他挑战了新的工作。

Tā tiǎozhànle xīn de gōngzuò.

He challenged new work.

她挑起了两人的争吵。

Tā tiǎoqǐle liǎng rén de zhēngchǎo.

She provoked the argument between the two.

爷爷以前每天挑水灌溉。

Yéye yǐqián měitiān tiāoshuǐ guàngài.

Grandpa used to carry water for irrigation every day.

有人挑拨他们之间的关系。

Yǒu rén tiǎobō tāmen zhī jiān de guānxì.

Someone sowed discord in their relationship.

他故意挑逗那只小猫玩耍。

Tā gùyì tiǎodòu nà zhī xiǎo māo wánshuǎ.

He deliberately teased that little cat to play.

Related Characters

Component: 兆

Component: 扌

挑