择

擇

zé

扌 + 𠬤

Definitions

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

zé (verb) to differentiate; to distinguish

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 𠬤 represents the sound. Simplified from 擇.

About

The traditional character 擇 is a phono-semantic compound, with 扌 (shǒu, 'hand') on the left denoting a manual action, and 睪 (yì) on the right indicating the pronunciation. In the simplified form 择, the intricate 睪 is replaced by the more streamlined component 𠬤 (yì), which serves the same phonetic role. This hand radical points to the original concrete meaning: the physical act of picking or sorting objects from a group. Over time, the meaning extended figuratively to the mental process of choosing among options, strategies, or paths in abstract contexts.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我选择在家学习。

Wǒ xuǎnzé zài jiā xuéxí.

I choose to study at home.

他仔细选择礼物。

Tā zǐxì xuǎnzé lǐwù.

He carefully chooses a gift.

明天我要选择课程。

Míngtiān wǒ yào xuǎnzé kèchéng.

Tomorrow I will choose courses.

因为喜欢，我选择了它。

Yīnwèi xǐhuān, wǒ xuǎnzéle tā.

Because I like it, I chose it.

在选择职业时，他很谨慎。

Zài xuǎnzé zhíyè shí, tā hěn jǐnshèn.

When choosing a career, he is very cautious.

公司择优录取员工。

Gōngsī zéyōu lùqǔ yuángōng.

The company selects the best to hire employees.

如果你不选择努力，就会失败。

Rúguǒ nǐ bù xuǎnzé nǔlì, jiù huì shībài.

If you don't choose to work hard, you will fail.

在多元文化中，学会选择与尊重至关重要。

Zài duōyuán wénhuà zhōng, xuéhuì xuǎnzé yǔ zūnzhòng zhì guān zhòngyào.

In a multicultural context, learning to choose and respect is crucial.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 扌

Component: 𠬤

择