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挑剔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
挑剔tiāotipickyHSK 7, v, rank #7207, Hard
挑剔tiāotifussyHSK 7, v, rank #7207, Hard
tiāoti(tiao1ti5) T1
  1. 1picky
  2. 2fussy
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March 24, 2026
挑剔tiāoti(tiao1ti5)

The term 挑剔 (tiāo tì) refers to being overly critical or particular about details, often in a negative context. It is commonly used to describe someone who is fussy about their preferences, whether in food, work, or personal relationships, and can imply a sense of dissatisfaction with what is offered.

Frequency#7207DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being perceived as 挑剔 can carry significant social implications, as it may suggest a lack of appreciation or gratitude towards what is offered, particularly in dining situations, which are culturally significant.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chef (挑, tiāo) who is so picky (剔, tì) about the ingredients that they reject everything that doesn't meet their high standards. Visualize the chef tossing aside perfectly good vegetables, highlighting their fastidious nature.

Meanings of 挑剔

tiāoti(tiao1ti5)
1picky
2fussy
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 挑剔

挑剔Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7207Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 挑剔

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Podcast: 挑剔

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AI Study Notes for 挑剔

Quick Contrast

挑剔 (tiāoti) vs 吹毛求疵 (chuī máo qiú cī) — use 挑剔 for general fussiness, while 吹毛求疵 implies an extreme level of nitpicking.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a chef (挑, tiāo) who is so picky (剔, tì) about the ingredients that they reject everything that doesn't meet their high standards. Visualize the chef tossing aside perfectly good vegetables, highlighting their fastidious nature.

Usage Notes

While 挑剔 is generally used in informal contexts, be mindful of its negative connotation. Common phrases include '挑剔食物' (picky about food) and '挑剔别人' (critique others). Avoid using it in overly formal situations where a more neutral term might be appropriate.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 挑剔 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to preferences and opinions. Students should focus on its usage in varied contexts and practice constructing sentences that convey subtlety in critique.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being perceived as 挑剔 can carry significant social implications, as it may suggest a lack of appreciation or gratitude towards what is offered, particularly in dining situations, which are culturally significant.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 挑剔 with other terms like '挑选' (to choose), leading to incorrect phrases such as '我很挑选食物' (I am very choose food). The correct phrase would be '我很挑剔食物' (I am very picky about food).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 挑剔

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Component Characters

挑tiāoto carry on a shoulder pole
HSK 59 strokes扌
View full entry
剔tīpick (as teeth)
10 strokes刂
View full entry

Write 挑剔

挑
剔

Practice writing 挑剔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 挑剔

挑剔 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

把你的鱼吃完,别太____了.

Eat up your fish and don't be so finicky.

Example Sentences for 挑剔 (4)

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1
把你的鱼吃完,别太挑剔了.

bǎ nǐ de yú chī wán, , bié tài tiāo tī.

Eat up your fish and don't be so finicky.
2
她向外望去，注视着修剪得整整齐齐、无可挑剔的花园。

tā xiàng wài wàng qù， ， zhù shì zháo xiū jiǎn dé zhěng zhěng qí、 qí 、 wú kě tiāo tī de。

She stared out at the impeccably manicured garden.
3
每当厨师挑剔我干的活儿时，我都非常沮丧。

měi dāng chú shī tiāo tī wǒ gān de huó ér shí， ， wǒ dū fēi cháng jǔ。

I was disappointed whenever the cook found fault with my work.
4
她非常挑剔, 因些她的朋友都不喜欢跟她一起逛街.

tā fēi cháng tiāo tī, , yīn xiē tā de péng yǒu dū bù xǐ huān gēn tā yī qǐ guàng.

She's very fussy, so all her friends hate shopping with her.

Cultural Notes for 挑剔

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, being perceived as 挑剔 can carry significant social implications, as it may suggest a lack of appreciation or gratitude towards what is offered, particularly in dining situations, which are culturally significant.

Frequently Asked Questions about 挑剔

Generally, 挑剔 has a negative connotation and is not used in positive contexts. However, one might say someone is 'meticulous' in a more neutral way.