揀 [拣] jiǎn
verb
: to choose; to pick; to sort out; to pick up
none applicable
none applicable
揀[拣]起 jian3qi3: to pick up
揀選 [拣选] jian3xuan3: to select; to sort out
揀[拣]定 jian3ding4: to select
揀[拣]信室 jian3 xin4 shi4: mail sorting office
挑揀[拣] tiao1jian3: to pick and choose; to select
白揀[拣] bai2jian3: cheap choice; to choose something that costs nothing
翻揀[拣] fan1jian3: to browse and select; to glance through and check
手揀[拣] shou3jian3: hand-sort
Chinese expression | chengyu 成語 | idiom
揀佛燒香 [拣佛烧香] jian3 fo2 shao1 xiang1
: to choose which Buddha to burn incense to; fig. to curry favor from the right person
揀飲擇食 [拣饮择食] jian3 yin3 ze2 shi2
: to choose one’s food carefully; to be picky
挑三揀四 [挑三拣四] tiao1 san1 jian3 si4
: to be picky; to be choosy
雷公打豆腐，揀軟的欺 [雷公打豆腐，拣软的欺] lei2 gong1 da3 dou4 fu5 , jian3 ruan3 de5 qi1
: the God of Thunder strikes bean curd, a bully picks the weakest person; to pick on an easy target
形声 Pictophonetic.
扌 (shou3: hand radical 64) suggests the meaning while
柬 (jian3: letter, invitation; choose) provides the sound.
簡體 Simplified.
拣. Created as unique simplification #114 (揀 » 拣) via replacement of character component.
Examples:
他丢了西瓜揀了芝麻。
ta1 diu1 le xi1gua1 jian3 le zhi1ma
lit. He threw away a watermelon for a sesame seed. fig. Penny wise pound foolish. Making a bad choice.
Resources: Chinese Dictionary | Japanese Dictionary
