擇善而從

简 择善而从 · 繁 擇善而從
Mandarin · pinyin zé shàn ér cóng

Meanings

  1. to choose the right course and follow it (idiom)
Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

擇
Look up this written character
善
shàn · good, virtuous, charitable, kind
而
ér · and; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
從
cóng · from, by, since, whence, through
择
zé · select, choose, pick out
从
cóng · from, by, since, whence, through
Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

Explore the spelling

Mandarin tones

2–4–2–2 · ze2 shan4 er2 cong2

Compare attested words with these syllables ↗

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

Connected dictionary

5character links
Explore word families ↗Compare pronunciations ↗Open character structure ↗
Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.

Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

擇善而從 · find source passages ↗ · 择善而从 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗

Compare dictionary sources Rime

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

zaak6 sin6 ji4 cung4

Cantonese word readings for 擇善而從. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack