挑
Character learning workspace

tiāo / tiǎo · to select, to choose

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 5Frequency #2310
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Learn every stroke in 挑

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

挑 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

tiāo

to carry on a shoulder pole; to choose; to pick

挑选tiāo xuǎn · to choose
tiǎo

to raise; to dig up; to poke

挑战tiǎo zhàn · to challenge
Step-by-step explorer

See how 挑 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

9Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

扌Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 挑 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 挑

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

tiāoto carry on a shoulder pole; to choose; to pick
tiǎoto raise; to dig up; to poke
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 挑 sits in each complete thought.

Tiāo xuǎn yí gè ba.挑选一个吧。

Choose one.

Source: Tatoeba #883060 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè shì yí gè jù dà de tiǎozhàn.这是一个巨大的挑战。

That's a huge challenge.

Source: Tatoeba #4845054 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā zǒng shì zài tiāo tī bié rén de máo bìng.他總是在挑剔別人的毛病。

He is always finding fault with others.

Source: Tatoeba #1574175 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shì gè tiǎoxìn gāo shǒu.他是个挑衅高手。

He's a master of provocation.

Source: Tatoeba #566530 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè jiāng huì shì jù dà de, rú guǒ nǐ kě yǐ tiāo xuǎn yì xiē miàn bāo, rán hòu zài huí jiā.这将会是巨大的,如果你可以挑选一些面包,然后再回家。

It'd be great if you could pick up some bread before you come home.

Source: Tatoeba #733164 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Méi yǒu tiǎozhàn jiù méi yǒu shōu huò.没有挑战就没有收获。

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Source: Tatoeba #8715858 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 挑 in context

  1. Say tiāo / tiǎo, then recall the core meaning: to select, to choose.
  2. Write all 9 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 挑选 (tiāo xuǎn), meaning “to choose”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 挑 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.