选择 (xuǎn zé) means 'to choose' as a verb and 'choice' as a noun. It combines two characters with similar meanings: 选 (xuǎn) means 'to select' or 'to pick out', often implying careful consideration; 择 (zé) also means 'to choose', especially in formal or deliberate contexts — together, they form a standard, neutral term used widely in speech and writing. Unlike the more colloquial 选 (xuǎn) alone, 选择 carries a slightly more thoughtful or consequential connotation, as if weighing options before deciding.

This word appears frequently in daily life — from choosing food or clothes to making important life decisions like careers or schools. As a noun, it functions like 'a choice' or 'the choice': e.g., 这是一个艰难的选择 (This is a difficult choice). It can be modified by adjectives (e.g., 最佳选择 — best choice) and followed by 的 when acting attributively (e.g., 我的选择 — my choice). It's commonly paired with verbs like 做 (to make), 面临 (to face), or 影响 (to influence).