Definition
拣到 is a verb-resultative compound combining 拣 (to pick up) and 到 (resultative complement marking successful attainment). It means 'to find something by picking it up' — typically a lost or dropped object you discover on the ground. The structure is parallel to 找到 or 看到: the resultative 到 indicates the action is completed and the object is obtained. You can insert 得 or 不 between the two characters to express possibility (拣得到, 拣不到). In spoken Chinese, 拣到 is interchangeable with the more common 捡到 (mainland standard); 拣 is the variant preferred in Taiwan and some southern regions.
v
to pick up (something found)to find and pick up
Examples
- 拣到。Wǒ zài lùshàng jiǎn dào yí gè qiánbāo.I picked up a wallet on the road.
- 拣到。Tā jiǎn dào le yí chuàn yàoshi.He found a bunch of keys.
- 拣到?Nǐ cóng nǎlǐ jiǎn dào zhège de?Where did you find this?
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