Recognize 選 in 選ぶ, 選択 and 選手; learn each complete word in context.

The idea

選ぶ (えらぶ) means to choose; to select; 選択 (せんたく) means choice; selection; 選手 (せんしゅ) means athlete; player. 選 has 15 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram to write them in order. Learn each reading with its word. Sino-Japanese reading: セン（選択）; Japanese-origin reading: えら（選ぶ）.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
選ぶえらぶto choose; to select
選択せんたくchoice; selection
選手せんしゅathlete; player

Examples

  • 好すきな本ほんを選えらんでください。Please choose a book you like.
  • 私わたしは青あおい服ふくを選えらびました。I chose the blue clothes.
  • 自分じぶんで選択せんたくすることが大切たいせつです。It is important to make your own choice.
  • いくつかの選択肢せんたくしがあります。There are several choices.
  • あの選手せんしゅは毎日まいにち練習れんしゅうします。That athlete practices every day.
  • 選手せんしゅたちが試合しあいの前まえに集あつまりました。The players gathered before the match.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

選ぶ is the everyday verb “choose”; 選択 is a noun or a する-verb. 選択 and 洗濯 (せんたく, laundry) sound alike but have different kanji and meanings; 選手 is an athlete or player. Compare 選 and 進; their components differ: 選＝辶＋巽；進＝辶＋隹.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 選ぶ in hiragana.

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    えらぶ

    選ぶ is read えらぶ and means to choose; to select.

  2. Write the reading of 選択 in hiragana.

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    せんたく

    選択 is read せんたく and means choice; selection.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿手（せんしゅ）.

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    選

    選 completes 選手, read せんしゅ; the word means athlete; player.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 選 from memory, then read 選ぶ and 選択 aloud and make a sentence with one of them.