How to Say "Choose" in Japanese

選ぶ

erabu[e̞ɾa̠bɯ̟]

To choose in Japanese is 選ぶ (erabu).

選ぶ means to pick.

Meaning: to pick (verb)

Which one should you use?

While 選ぶ is used for selecting from a range of options, the word 決める is used for making a decision or deciding on a course of action.

The past tense of 選ぶ is 選んだ (chose/picked), and the passive form is 選ばれる (to be chosen).

erabu

When someone cannot choose between several good options, they might say 迷う, which literally means 'to be lost' or 'to wander'. This suggests that indecision is like being physically lost in a maze.
In many Japanese games or digital interfaces, the button to 'choose' or 'select' an item is often labelled with 決定 (decide) rather than a verb for 'choose'.
Japanese has a specific phrase 目利き to describe someone who is an expert at choosing high-quality goods. This 'eye-picker' possesses a specialized skill for discerning quality that goes beyond simple selection.

君は選ぶ必要がある。
You have to choose.
Tatoeba #7577114 by Sawara, translation #2548461 by CK
問題はどっちを選ぶかだ。
The question is which to choose.
Tatoeba #79839 by small_snow, translation #323863 by CK
彼は二者択一を選ぶことでしょう。武術か死か。
Which will he choose, I wonder, martial arts or death?
Tatoeba #75437 by fcbond, translation #328281 by fcbond
彼は新しい車を選びました。
He chose a new car.
私はその映画を選ぶことにしました。
I decided to choose that movie.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two people are looking at a menu at a restaurant.

大翔 Hiroto

結衣、何にする？
Yui, nani ni suru?
Yui, what are you having?
結衣 Yui

迷うな。どれを選ぼうかな。
Mayou na. Dore o erabō kana.
I can't decide. I wonder which one I should choose.
大翔 Hiroto

ここのパスタがお勧めだよ。
Koko no pasuta ga osusume da yo.
The pasta here is recommended.
結衣 Yui

じゃあ、パスタを選ぶね。
Jaa, pasuta o erabu ne.
Then, I'll choose the pasta.

Sources

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