选 (xuǎn) — choosing someone for a role

Subject + 选 (xuǎn) + Person + 当 (dāng) + Role / Subject + 收 (shōu) + Person + 做 (zuò) / 为 (wéi) + Role

HSK 43.0

Pattern diagram

Who / what选Who当Noun
Who / what收Who做为Noun

Rule structure

A verb of choosing or accepting is followed by a person and their role. 选 (xuǎn) means “choose”: 选他当班长 (xuǎn tā dāng bānzhǎng), “elect him class monitor.” 收 (shōu) here means “accept”: 收他做学生 (shōu tā zuò xuésheng), “accept him as a student,” rather than appoint him to a position.

Examples

大家选他当班长。

Dàjiā xuǎn tā dāng bānzhǎng.

Everyone elected him class monitor.

师傅收他做学生。

Shīfu shōu tā zuò xuésheng.

The master took him on as a student.

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Words from this rule

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “choosing someone for a role” in Chinese with 选?

Use the structure: Subject + 选 (xuǎn) + Person + 当 (dāng) + Role / Subject + 收 (shōu) + Person + 做 (zuò) / 为 (wéi) + Role. For example: 大家选他当班长。 — “Everyone elected him class monitor”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

大家选他当班长。 — “Everyone elected him class monitor”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Level 4.

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More HSK 3.0 Level 4 grammar rules