How to say "choose" in Japanese

• 選ぶえらぶJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe basic, all-purpose verb for 'choose': picking out one from among several alternatives. Use it for most everyday choosing — a gift, an option, a course of action, a person for a job.
  どうやって新鮮しんせんな魚さかなをえらぶのですか。↗

  How can I pick out fresh fish?
• 決めるきめるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbChiefly 'to decide' or 'make up one's mind'. Its 'choose' sense is settling on one thing — a plan, a date — the weight on reaching the decision rather than on the picking itself.
  そこに行いくことに決きめた。↗

  I made up my mind to go there.
• 選るよるCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbA distinct verb — read よる — not a form of 選ぶ, sharing the core senses of choosing, selecting, and picking out. Its nuance leans toward picking out from among a number; 選ぶ is the default.
  収穫しゅうかくしたトマトの中なかからいいものだけをよって、市場しじょうに持もって行いこう。↗

  Let's choose the best of the tomato crop and take them to the market.

Use 「選ぶ」 as your all-purpose verb for choosing or picking one from among alternatives; use 「決める」 when the point is deciding and making up your mind; 「選る」 is a separate verb with much the same sense as 「選ぶ」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 選ぶえらぶto choose
• 決めるきめるto decide
• 選るよるto choose
• すぐるto select (the best)
• 選び取るえらびとるto choose (and take)
• 選するせんするto choose
• 選り抜くえりぬくto select
• 見立てるみたてるto (see and) choose
• 拾うひろうto select
• 卜するぼくするto choose
• 篩うふるうto pick out (e.g. a candidate)
• するto decide on
• 取るとるto adopt (a method, proposal, etc.)
• 抜くぬくto pick out