選擇 / 选择
xuǎnzé
The English phrase 'choose' in Chinese is translated as 選擇 / 选择 (xuǎnzé). Wiktionary also lists 挑選 / 挑选 (tiāoxuǎn).
Meaning: to pick (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 選擇 / 选择 | xuǎnzé |
| 挑選 / 挑选 | tiāoxuǎn |
The term 選擇 / 选择 means to pick. In a legal or formal context, you may encounter the noun phrase 選擇權 (xuǎnzé quán), which expresses 'the right to choose' or 'option'.
Which one should you use?
挑選 / 挑选 is used when physically picking through items to find the best one, such as choosing fruit in a market or clothes in a shop.
How do you pronounce it?
xuǎnzé
Did you know?
- In a romantic context, the phrase 挑對象 is used to describe the process of choosing a spouse. The word 對象 literally means 'object' or 'target', treating the choice of a partner like a target to be selected.
- In a digital context, when you 'choose' or 'select' a file on a computer, the Chinese interface often uses 選中 / 选中 (xuǎn zhòng), which adds the character for 'hit the mark'.
- In Chinese, the word 挑 in 挑選 also means 'to carry on a shoulder pole'. This refers to the physical action of lifting or moving things aside to inspect what lies beneath.
Examples in context
- 请在下面的选项中选择您的答案。Please choose your answer from the options below.
- 我们去哪家餐厅吃饭？你选吧！Which restaurant should we go to? You choose!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “choose” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
