挑 tiāo
- Strokes
- 9
- Radical
- 扌 — hand
- Made of
- 扌 hand 兆 omen
- How it's built
- Phono-semantic — one part hints at the meaning, another at the sound
挑剔
tiāoti
to nitpick; to be picky
Characters in this word
剔 tī
- Strokes
- 10
- Radical
- 刂 — knife
- Made of
- 易 to change 刂 knife
- How it's built
- Phono-semantic — one part hints at the meaning, another at the sound
Example phrases
- 他并非故意挑剔，而是担心报告中的模糊表述会被对方利用。 Tā bìngfēi gùyì tiāoti, ér shì dānxīn bàogào zhōng de móhu biǎoshù huì bèi duìfāng lìyòng. He is not deliberately nitpicking, but is worried that the vague wording in the report may be used by the other side.
- 她对食物很挑剔，太辣的东西一口都不吃。 Tā duì shíwù hěn tiāoti, tài là de dōngxi yīkǒu dōu bù chī. She is very picky about food and refuses to eat anything too spicy.
- 这位顾客特别挑剔，服务员还是耐心地解释。 Zhè wèi gùkè tèbié tiāoti, fúwùyuán háishì nàixīn de jiěshì. This customer is especially picky, yet the waiter still patiently explained.
Related words
- 挑 tiāo to choose; to carry on a pole
- 挑选 tiāoxuǎn to choose carefully
- 挑 tiǎo to stir up; to lift with a stick
- 挑战 tiǎozhàn challenge
- 挑拨 tiǎobō to incite; to sow discord
- 挑衅 tiǎoxìn to provoke; provocation
- 剔除 tīchú to remove; to eliminate
- 小看 xiǎokàn to look down on; to underestimate
- 顺从 shùncóng to submit; to be obedient
- 炫耀 xuànyào to show off; to flaunt
- 推辞 tuīcí to decline; to refuse politely
- 顽皮 wánpí naughty; mischievous; playful