择
zé
to select
to choose; to pick over; to pick out; to differentiate; to eliminate; also pr. [zhai2]
hand (扌) + phonetic = to pick and choose
The right side 择 (without the hand radical) is largely phonetic, lending the zé sound. The hand radical anchors the action: physically sorting through options with your fingers.
选择职业时，要考虑自己的兴趣。
xuǎn zé zhí yè shí， yào kǎo lǜ zì jǐ de xìng qù。
when choosing a career, you should consider your own interests.
他不择手段地想要得到那份工作。
tā bù zé shǒu duàn de xiǎng yào dé dào nà fèn gōng zuò。
he wants to get that job by any means, without being selective about his methods.
Words with 择
择偶
zé ǒu
to choose a spouse
选择题
xuǎn zé tí
multiple-choice question
选择
xuǎn zé
to select; to pick
选择性
xuǎn zé xìng
selective
饥不择食
jī bù zé shí
when hungry, you can't pick what you eat (idiom); beggars can't be choosers
不加选择
bù jiā xuǎn zé
indiscriminate
不择手段
bù zé shǒu duàn
by fair means or foul
别无选择
bié wú xuǎn zé
to have no other choice
口不择言
kǒu bù zé yán
to speak incoherently
口无择言
kǒu wú zé yán
to say not a word that is not appropriate (idiom)
天择
tiān zé
natural selection
张择端
zhāng zé duān
Zhang Zeduan (1085-1145), Song dynasty painter