選る・択る・撰る|よるyoru[1]atamadaka (head-high)
えるeru[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
選る選る（よる） is the most common written form and the recommended default for beginners.
択る択る（よる） is less common than 選る（よる）. It is an alternative written form, but learners should normally choose 選る（よる） instead.
撰る撰る（よる） is less common than 選る（よる） and 択る（よる）. It is an alternative written form, but learners should normally choose 選る（よる） instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto choose; to select; to pick out
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 選る（よる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 選ります（よります） |
| Negative (nai) | 選らない（よらない） |
| polite (masen) | 選りません（よりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 選らず・選らぬ（よらず・よらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 選った（よった） |
| polite (mashita) | 選りました（よりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 選らなかった（よらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 選りませんでした（よりませんでした） |
| Te form | 選って（よって） |
| Potential | 選れる（よれる） |
| Passive | 選られる（よられる） |
| Causative | 選らせる（よらせる） |
| Causative passive | 選らせられる・選らされる（よらせられる・よらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 選れば（よれば） |
| tara | 選ったら（よったら） |
| Volitional | 選ろう（よろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 選りましょう（よりましょう） |
| Imperative | 選れ（よれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym選ぶえらぶNeutralThe most common everyday word for choosing; 「選る」 is older and now survives mostly in compounds such as 「選りすぐる」 and 「選り分ける」.
- Synonym選り分けるよりわけるNeutralMeans sorting things into good and bad as you pick them out; 「選る」 simply means picking something out.
- Synonym選び出すえらびだすNeutralPicks out one thing from among many; today 「選ぶ」 is the usual word, since 「選る」 is dated.
- SynonymセレクトNeutralA loanword used mainly for merchandise, as in 「セレクトショップ」; 「選る」 is the older word.
- Synonym選別せんべつWrittenA written noun for sorting by set criteria, as in 「ごみの選別」; 「選る」 just means picking out.
- SynonymチョイスCasualA loanword common in colloquial speech and product copy; 「選る」 sounds old-fashioned by comparison.
- Synonym選び取るえらびとるNeutralMeans choosing and taking, often figuratively for actively choosing one's path in life; 「選る」 just means picking.
- Synonym選り出すよりだすNeutralPicks out what is needed from a larger set; close in sense to 「選る」 but rarely used.
- Synonym選り抜くえりぬくWrittenWritten style for picking out the very best, as in 「えり抜きの選手」; 「選る」 does not stress quality.
- Synonym選りすぐるよりすぐるWrittenMeans sifting through many to take only the best; 「選る」 itself carries no sense of 'the best'.
- Related選択せんたくNeutralThe most common Sino-Japanese word for choosing; 「選る」 is a native verb and sounds dated.
- Related選定せんていWrittenWritten word for selecting and settling on something, as in 「候補地を選定」; 「選る」 covers only the picking.
- Related選考せんこうWrittenWritten word for screening and selecting people or works, as in 「書類選考」; 「選る」 is the more colloquial option.
- Related選抜せんばつWrittenSelects the outstanding, as in 「選抜チーム」, and also names the spring Koshien tournament; 「選る」 is more general.
- Related選出せんしゅつWrittenFormal word for electing or naming a representative, as in 「議長に選出」; today 「選ぶ」 is the usual verb here.
- Related採択さいたくWrittenWritten word for adopting a bill or proposal at a meeting, or a school adopting textbooks; 「選る」 just means picking.
- Related精選せいせんWrittenWritten word for careful, painstaking selection, as in 「精選された食材」; 「選る」 implies no special care.
- Related分けるわけるNeutralMeans dividing or distributing things; 「選る」 is about picking out, not dividing.
- Related分かつわかつWrittenWritten word for dividing or sharing, as in 「袂を分かつ」; 「選る」 is about picking out.
- RelatedふるいにかけるNeutralIdiom for sieving or screening candidates and weeding out the unsuitable; 「選る」 simply picks out.
- Relatedふるい落とすふるいおとすNeutralSifts out and eliminates the unsuitable; 「選る」 focuses on picking out what you want.
For everyday choosing, say 「選ぶ」, or 「選択」 in more formal contexts; 「選る」 is dated and mostly survives in compounds like 「選りすぐる」 and 「選り分ける」. Use 「選抜」 for picking the outstanding and 「選考」 for screening applicants or works; sorting by criteria is 「選別」, electing a representative is 「選出」, and adopting a proposal is 「採択」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
