挑

• 拼音: tiāo
• 汉字拆解: 挑 = 扌(hand) + 兆 (phonetic component)

含义

To carry on a shoulder pole; to pick out; to select carefully.

Has two common pronunciations: tiāo (to pick/select, or to carry on a pole) and tiǎo (to provoke). At HSK 4, the tiāo sense of carefully choosing among options is most commonly tested. Used when someone examines items and selects the best one.

例句

1. 她在菜市场挑了最新鲜的蔬菜才买。
2. 买东西的时候要仔细挑，不要随便拿一件就走。
3. 农民用扁担挑着两桶水慢慢走回家。

用法指南

语境: everyday, shopping

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 她总是很仔细地挑水果。(She always picks fruit very carefully.)
• 你帮我挑一件颜色好看的吧。(Help me pick one with a nice colour.)

错误说法

• 挑战困难 — here 挑 is read tiǎo, not tiāo; confusing the two tones changes the meaning entirely.

起源与历史

The character 挑 combines 扌(hand radical) and 兆 (phonetic component meaning 'omen'), reflecting the sense of using hands to select or lift.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal