挑

tiāo

HSK 5, 7

挑 — tiāo

1. to carry (on a shoulder pole)

   挑水的人早上出去了。 tiāoshuǐ de rén zǎoshàng chūqù le — The person carrying water on a pole went out in the morning.

2. to choose; to pick (from several)

   你可以在菜单里挑一道菜。 nǐ kěyǐ zài càidān lǐ tiāo yīdào cài — You can pick a dish from the menu.

3. to nitpick; to deliberately find fault

   别总挑他的毛病，他已经很努力了。 bié zǒng tiāo tā de máobìng tā yǐjīng hěn nǔlì le — Don't keep nitpicking him; he's been trying hard.

挑 — tiǎo

1. to pick up; to raise; to dig up (with a tool or finger); to poke

   他用手挑起地上的线头。 tāyòng shǒu tiāoqǐ dìshàng de xiàntóu — He picked up the loose thread on the ground with his hand.

2. to incite; to provoke; to stir up (trouble, feelings)

   别在公众场合挑事儿。 bié zài gōngzhòng chǎnghé tiāo shìér — Don't stir up trouble in public.