Readings: タク (Onyomi), えら.ぶ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: choose, select, prefer
The kanji 択 combines the radical 手 (hand) with 尺 (shaku, a measure or ruler), which serves as the phonetic component. Together, it conveys the idea of “choosing” or “selecting” by hand, often implying careful consideration or measurement.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 択 is written with 5 strokes. Start with the left-side radical 扌 (tehen), then complete the right side with the horizontal stroke, vertical stroke, a short diagonal stroke to the left, and finally a long diagonal stroke to the right.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 扌 (てへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 5 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- タク (Taku)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- えらぶ (erabu)
Common Words Using 択
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 選択 | せんたく | choice; selection |
| 採択 | さいたく | adoption; selection (of a proposal) |
| 択一 | たくいつ | choosing one; alternative |
| 選択肢 | せんたくし | choices; options |
| 択定 | たくてい | selection; designation |
| 択捉島 | えとろふとう | Etorofu Island (part of the Kuril Islands) |
| 択一問題 | たくいつもんだい | multiple-choice question |
| 取捨選択 | しゅしゃせんたく | selection; choosing what to take and what to discard |
| 厳択 | げんたく | strict selection |
| 自択 | じたく | self-selection; choosing for oneself |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 択ぶ | えらぶ | to choose; to select (often written as 選ぶ) |
| 択ばれる | えらばれる | to be chosen; to be selected |
| 択び出す | えらびだす | to pick out; to select from a group |
| 択び取る | えらびとる | to choose and take; to select and acquire |
| 択び抜く | えらびぬく | to select the best; to pick thoroughly |
| 択び兼ねる | えらびかねる | to have difficulty choosing; to be unable to choose |
| 択ばず | えらばず | without choosing; indiscriminately |
| 択び直す | えらびなおす | to re-choose; to select again |
| 択び方 | えらびかた | way of choosing; how to choose |
| 択び損なう | えらびそこなう | to choose wrongly; to make a wrong choice |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は人生の重要な選択に直面している。
Kana: かれはじんせいのじゅうようなせんたくにちょくめんしている。
Romaji: Kare wa jinsei no juuyou na sentaku ni chokumen shiteiru.
English: He is facing an important choice in his life.
Japanese: その提案は満場一致で採択された。
Kana: そのていあんはまんじょういっちでさいたくされた。
Romaji: Sono teian wa manjou icchi de saitaku sareta.
English: The proposal was unanimously adopted.
Japanese: この二つの道から択一しなければならない。
Kana: このふたつのみちからたくいつしなければならない。
Romaji: Kono futatsu no michi kara takuitsu shinakereba naranai.
English: You must choose one from these two paths.
Japanese: 択捉島は北方領土の一つです。
Kana: えとろふとうはほっぽうりょうどのひとつです。
Romaji: Etorofu-tou wa hoppou ryoudo no hitotsu desu.
English: Etorofu Island is one of the Northern Territories.
Japanese: 選択肢が多すぎて、どれを選べばいいか分からない。
Kana: せんたくしがおおすぎて、どれをえらべばいいかわからない。
Romaji: Sentakushi ga oosugite, dore o erabeba ii ka wakaranai.
English: There are too many options, and I don’t know which one to choose.
Japanese: 彼は膨大な情報から必要なものを取捨選択した。
Kana: かれはぼうだいなじょうほうからひつようなものをしゅしゃせんたくした。
Romaji: Kare wa boudai na jouhou kara hitsuyou na mono o shusha sentaku shita.
English: He selected what was necessary from the vast amount of information.
Japanese: 参加者の代表者が厳選されて択定された。
Kana: さんかしゃのだいひょうしゃがげんせんされてたくていされた。
Romaji: Sankasha no daihyousha ga gensen sarete takutei sareta.
English: Representatives of the participants were carefully selected and designated.
Japanese: 自分の運命は自分で択ぶべきだ。
Kana: じぶんのうんめいはじぶんでえらぶべきだ。
Romaji: Jibun no unmei wa jibun de erabu beki da.
English: You should choose your own destiny.
Japanese: その作品は最終選考に残ったが、賞には択ばれなかった。
Kana: そのさくひんはさいしゅうせんこうにのこったが、しょうにはえらばれなかった。
Romaji: Sono sakuhin wa saishuu senkou ni nokotta ga, shou ni wa erabarenakatta.
English: The work remained in the final selection, but was not chosen for the award.
Japanese: 大学では選択科目を自由に選べます。
Kana: だいがくではせんたくかもくをじゆうにえらべます。
Romaji: Daigaku de wa sentaku kamoku o jiyuu ni erabemasu.
English: At university, you can freely choose elective subjects.
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