zing1 tiu1 sai3 syun2精挑細選精挑细选
Jyutpingzing1 tiu1 sai3 syun2
Yalejīng tīu sai syún
Definition
To select very carefully; to choose with great care.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a sense of deliberate, meticulous effort, often implying that the person has compared many options before settling on one. It is frequently used to justify why a particular item is of high quality or why a decision took a long time. Unlike simple verbs for choosing, this emphasizes the process of filtering out the bad to keep the best.
Examples
These goods were carefully handpicked by me.
Related words
Common phrases
a carefully selected gift
Common mistake
Avoid using this for trivial, split-second decisions, as it implies a significant investment of time and attention. It is not a synonym for simply picking something out.
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.
