选手

• Pinyin: xuǎn shǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 选 = 辶 (movement) + 先 (first, phonetic), meaning to choose; 手 = pictograph of a hand

Meaning

Contestant; competitor; player. A person selected to participate in a competition.

Used to refer to participants in sports competitions, talent shows, game shows, and other contests. Common phrases: 参赛选手 (participating contestant), 职业选手 (professional player). In sports contexts, 运动员 (athlete) may also be used.

Examples

1. 这位选手的表现非常出色。 This contestant's performance was outstanding.
2. 今年的比赛有来自十个国家的选手。 This year's competition has contestants from ten countries.
3. 选手们正在做赛前准备。 The contestants are doing pre-competition preparations.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, competition, entertainment

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他是这次比赛最年轻的选手。(He is the youngest contestant in this competition.)
• 每位选手都有三分钟的表演时间。(Each contestant has three minutes of performance time.)

Don't Say

• 我是做饭的选手。(Don't use 选手 for everyday activities — it specifically means someone in a competition. Say 我很会做饭 instead.)

Origin & History

选 means 'to select' or 'to choose' and 手 means 'hand' or 'person skilled at something'. Together they describe a person who has been selected for their skill to compete.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal