选 from HSK Level 2 Vocabulary List

The Chinese character 选 (xuǎn) is composed of two parts: 糸 (mì) and 宣 (xuān). 糸 originally meant "silk thread" and later came to be used as a phonetic component in characters related to selecting or choosing. 宣, on the other hand, originally meant "to spread out" or "to proclaim" and is often used in characters related to communication or dissemination.When combined, the two components of 选 create a character that conveys the idea of "selecting" or "choosing" from a larger group or set. This is because the act of selecting or choosing often involves spreading out or proclaiming the options available and then making a decision based on the information presented.In modern Chinese, 选 is commonly used in words related to selection, choice, or election. For example, it is used in the word 挑选 (tiǎoxuǎn), which means "to select" or "to choose", and in the word 选举 (xuǎnjǔ), which means "election".Overall, the etymology of the Chinese character 选 reflects the idea of spreading out or proclaiming options and then making a decision, which captures the essence of the concept of selection or choice.