How to say "select" in Japanese

• 選ぶえらぶJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe basic, all-purpose word for choosing or selecting one or more things from alternatives. When you simply need to say 'select' without any special nuance, this is the word you want.
  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?
• 選るよるCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbAlso means to choose or select, with essentially the same meaning as 選ぶ, but it is chiefly seen in writing and set phrases. Learners will rarely need it in speech; 選ぶ is the everyday form.
  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.
• 見立てるみたてるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbTo select something by looking it over and judging it, often with an eye for quality or value, as when an expert picks out fine goods. It carries a nuance of discernment beyond plain selection.
• 抜き出すぬきだすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbTo pick out or single out particular items from among many, pulling them out of the larger set. Use it when 'select' means extracting or singling out, not just choosing.
  彼かれらは最もっともよい作品さくひん二ふたつを抜き出ぬきだした。↗

  They picked out the best two works.
• 選び出すえらびだすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbTo select and take out particular ones from a larger group, combining choosing with the sense of extracting. Use it when you choose some things out of many and set them apart.
  彼かれは重要じゅうようなイデオムを選び出えらびだしました。↗

  He picked out some important idioms.

For everyday 'choose/select' use 「選ぶ」; the others add nuance: 「選る」 is the same action in writing, 「見立てる」 judging quality, and 「抜き出す」 or 選び出as picking some out from a larger group.

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

• 選ぶえらぶto choose
• 選るよるto choose
• 見立てるみたてるto (see and) choose
• 抜き出すぬきだすto pick out
• 選び出すえらびだすto select
• すぐるto select (the best)
• 選り抜くえりぬくto select
• 選り出すよりだすto select
• 選び取るえらびとるto choose (and take)
• 拾い出すひろいだすto single out
• 選するせんするto choose
• 拾うひろうto select
• 見出すみいだすto select
• 篩うふるうto pick out (e.g. a candidate)
• 抜くぬくto pick out