zaak6 jau1擇優择优
Jyutpingzaak6 jau1
Yalejaahk yāu
Definition
To pick out the best from a crowd; to select the most outstanding.
neutralworkpeople
How it's used
Often found in formal contexts like recruitment or academic admissions, this term carries a sense of meritocracy. It implies a systematic process of filtering through a large group to identify the top performers or highest quality options. While it sounds professional, it is still frequently used in spoken discussions about hiring or selection processes.
Examples
The company selected the best candidates to hire this year.
Are you planning to select the best ones?
Related words
Common phrases
to admit or hire based on merit
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a casual verb like 揀, but it is much more formal and usually implies a structured or institutional selection process rather than just picking an item off a shelf.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
