选拔

• Pinyin: xuǎn bá
• Hanzi breakdown: 选 = 辶 (walk) + 先 (first), meaning to choose; 拔 = 扌 (hand) + 犮 (pull), meaning to pull out

Meaning

To select; to choose through competition. Picking the best candidates from a group.

Implies a formal selection process with criteria and competition. Used for talent searches, team selection, job recruitment. Different from 选择 (general choice) in that 选拔 emphasizes competitive merit-based selection. Related: 选拔赛 (trials/qualifiers), 人才选拔 (talent selection).

Examples

1. 公司通过层层选拔，最终确定了三名候选人。 Through multiple rounds of selection, the company finally determined three candidates.
2. 国家队正在选拔参加奥运会的运动员。 The national team is selecting athletes to participate in the Olympics.
3. 他在选拔考试中表现出色，顺利进入了决赛。 He performed excellently in the selection exam and successfully advanced to the finals.

Usage Guide

Context: recruitment, sports, competition, organizational

Tone: official

Do Say

• 他被选拔进了国家队。(He was selected for the national team.)
• 选拔标准是什么？(What are the selection criteria?)

Don't Say

• 我选拔了一件衣服 — 买东西用'选'或'挑'，'选拔'用于正式的人才选拔过程

Origin & History

Compound of 选 (to choose, select) + 拔 (to pull out, select the best). Together meaning to pull out the best from a group.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal