Mao Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Hand (shǒu) Kangxi stroke count: 13 Page 440, Entry 22 Pronounced jian. Same as the character meaning to select or choose. It means to pick out, choose, and distinguish between things. History of the Three Kingdoms (Weizhi): He loved and was tolerant toward everyone, with nothing left to pick or choose. Lost Book of Zhou (Yi Zhoushu): Forming factions without making a selection. Old Book of Tang (Jiu Tangshu): The border regions are not yet pacified, and there is a great need for talent. The imperial command should order the regional military commissioner to select and recruit three thousand soldiers to be stationed at Yongguan for defense. Also means to weed out or filter. Zhang Lei's Poem Presented to Wujiu: Sharpen your ancient bronze, weed out and select in order to embody clear discernment. Commonly written as the variant form. Also pronounced lian. The meaning is the same. Sometimes written as the variant form.