選

音読おんよみ: セン

訓読くんよみ: えらぶ

画数かくすう: 15

部首ぶしゅ: 辶（しんにょう）

Meaning

Choose / Select / Elect

  • Basic forms
  • 選ぶ — to choose; to select / base form
  • 選びます — choose; select / masu form
  • 選んだ — chose; selected / ta-form
  • 選んで — choose and … / te-form
  • 選ばない — do not choose / negative
  • 選べば — if (you) choose / conditional
  • 選べ — choose! / imperative
  • Common expressions
  • 道を選ぶ — choose a path
  • 言葉を選ぶ — choose one’s words
  • More
  • 選びたい — want to choose / 〜たい form
  • 選べる — can choose / potential
  • 選ばなかった — did not choose

選ぶ（えらぶ） is a godan verb ending in ぶ. It is used for making a choice from multiple options — objects, paths, words, or decisions.

  • 選手せんしゅ — athlete / player
  • 選択せんたく — selection / choice
  • 選挙せんきょ — election
  • 当選とうせん — being elected
  • 再選さいせん — re-election
  • 選定せんてい — screening / selection

選 combines the 辶 (movement) radical with 巽 (phonetic/meaning component). Together they convey the sense of moving toward a direction or picking a path, which developed into the meaning of “choosing” or “selecting.” It appears widely in contexts of elections, options, and decisions.

好きすきな 本ほんを 選えらんでください。
Please choose your favorite book.

彼かれは 市長しちょうに 選出せんしゅつされました。
He was elected as mayor.

挙
Creates
選挙せんきょ — election
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