Definition
挑三拣四 is a four-character idiom meaning to be overly picky or finicky — literally 'pick three, choose four', but figuratively it describes someone who nitpicks or is hard to please, often in trivial matters. Use it to characterize a person who complains excessively or refuses reasonable options. It functions as a predicate or as an adverbial phrase in a sentence.
f.e.
to be excessively pickyto nitpickto find fault unnecessarily
Examples
- 挑三拣四，。Tā mǎi dōngxi zǒngshì tiāo, zhège bù xíng nàge bù hǎo.He's always picky when shopping—this one's no good, that one's not right.
- ，挑三拣四。Zhāopìn shí yào rènzhēn shāixuǎn, dàn yě bú yào tài tiāo.You should screen carefully when hiring, but don't be too choosy.
- ，，挑三拣四。Tā yǐjīng huàn le sān fèn gōngzuò le, měi cì dōu xián gōngsī bù hǎo, qíshí jiùshì tiāo.She's already changed jobs three times, always complaining the company is bad; actually, she's just being too picky.
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