gaan2 syun2揀選拣选
Jyutpinggaan2 syun2
Yalegáan syún
Definition
To select or choose one from two or more options based on preference.
neutraldaily actions
How it's used
While 揀選 is a valid verb, it carries a slightly more formal or deliberate tone than the everyday 揀. It is often used in contexts involving a process of elimination or official selection, such as choosing candidates or products from a large set. In casual speech, most people simply use 揀 to express the act of choosing.
Examples
You can choose any apple from this pile, just take whichever one you like.
Which gift did you select to give to them?
Related words
Common phrases
carefully selected
Common mistake
Learners often use 揀選 in very casual situations where it sounds overly stiff or literary. For everyday choices like picking a meal or a shirt, stick to 揀 to sound more natural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
