Translation guide
The English phrasal verb 'pick out' has several core meanings: to choose or select, to identify or recognize, to discern or distinguish, and to extract or remove. This guide organizes Japanese expressions by these practical meanings, from most common to more niche uses.
To pick out one or more items from a group, often based on preference or suitability.
General verb for 'choose' or 'select'. Works for picking out items, people, options, etc.
Please pick out one book you like.
He took a long time picking out a present.
Emphasizes the action of picking out from among many, often with care or for a specific purpose.
Pick out the most suitable candidate from the applicants.
Loanword from English 'pick up', used in casual or business contexts for selecting or highlighting items.
I picked out a few outfits I liked.
To carefully select the best ones; implies a thorough picking out process.
The experts picked out the finest materials.
To pick out someone or something from a crowd, picture, or group by sight or sound.
To distinguish or tell apart; often used for picking out a person or thing visually.
It's hard to pick out the twin brothers.
Formal term for identification; used in technical or official contexts.
To pick out by sound; distinguish by hearing.
To pick out subtle details, patterns, or qualities, often in abstract or sensory contexts.
To pick out something embedded or stuck, like a splinter or a piece of food.
To pull out or extract; used for physical objects like splinters, thorns, or items from a container.
I picked out the splinter from my finger.
To take out; general verb for removing something from somewhere.
To pick out with fingers or tweezers; often for small items.
Avoid directly translating 'pick out' as a single Japanese verb in all contexts. The appropriate verb depends heavily on whether you mean choose, identify, or extract. Using 選ぶ for identifying a person in a photo would sound unnatural.
選ぶ is the general 'choose'. 選び出す adds a nuance of actively picking out from a larger set, often with deliberation. Use 選び出す when you want to emphasize the selection process.
Pick a dish from the menu.
Pick out one person from many candidates.
Can you pick out your house on this map?
She picked out a nice dress for the party.
I need to pick out the bones from this fish.
She quickly picked out her friend in the crowd.
They picked out the suspect from the surveillance footage.
He can pick out different bird calls.
犬は匂いを嗅ぎ分けるのが得意だ。
Dogs are good at picking out scents.
財布から小銭を取り出した。
I picked out some coins from my wallet.
彼はサラダからピーマンを摘まみ出した。
He picked out the green peppers from the salad.