In 15 Seconds
- Used for making deliberate choices among several clear options.
- More formal and technical than the simple verb 'erabu'.
- Commonly found in technology, business, and serious life decisions.
Meaning
This phrase is the standard way to say 'to make a choice' or 'to select' something. It feels a bit more deliberate and formal than just picking a random item.
Key Examples
3 of 6Choosing a major at university
大学で専攻の選択をするのは難しいです。
It is difficult to make a choice of major at university.
Selecting a character in a video game
どのキャラクターを選択をする？
Which character are you going to select?
In a formal business meeting
我々は最善の選択をする必要があります。
We need to make the best choice.
Cultural Background
In group settings, people often avoid being the first to make a 'sentaku' to maintain harmony. Decisions are often made through 'Ringi' (consensus building) rather than a single person's 'sentaku'. Japanese UI/UX often uses {選択|せんたく} for radio buttons and dropdown menus. The concept of 'En' (fate) sometimes overrides personal 'sentaku' in how people describe their lives.
Use in Apps
When your phone is in Japanese, look for this phrase on every 'OK' or 'Select' button.
Laundry Trap
If you say 'Sentaku shimasu' at a laundromat, they'll know you mean laundry. At a restaurant, they'll know you mean choice. Context is king!
In 15 Seconds
- Used for making deliberate choices among several clear options.
- More formal and technical than the simple verb 'erabu'.
- Commonly found in technology, business, and serious life decisions.
What It Means
選択をする is your go-to phrase for making a decision. It combines the noun 選択 (selection) with the verb する (to do). Think of it as 'performing a selection.' It sounds a bit more intellectual than the simple verb 選ぶ. It implies you have a few options in front of you. You are weighing them carefully before committing. It is like the difference between 'picking' a donut and 'selecting' a career path.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when you want to sound clear and decisive. Just put the thing you are choosing before the phrase with the particle の. For example, コースの選択をする means 'to make a choice of a course.' In daily conversation, you might drop the を and just say 選択する. It works perfectly in apps, websites, and formal documents. If you are clicking a button on a screen, you are likely doing a 選択.
When To Use It
Use this when the choice matters. It is great for choosing a university or a new car. It is also the standard term in technical contexts. If you are playing a video game and picking a character, this is the word. Use it in business meetings when discussing strategy. It makes you sound like you have a logical reason for your pick. It is also used when you are filling out forms or surveys.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for tiny, mindless actions. If you are just grabbing a tissue, 選択をする is way too heavy. It sounds like you are having a philosophical crisis over a tissue. Also, be careful with the pronunciation! 洗濯 (sentaku) means laundry. If you say 選択をする but sound slightly different, people might think you are doing your laundry. Unless you are choosing which detergent to use, that could be a very confusing conversation!
Cultural Background
In Japan, the process of making a choice is often seen as a group effort. However, 選択 focuses on the act of the individual making a final call. There is a certain weight to this word. It suggests responsibility for the outcome. Interestingly, Japanese culture often values 'reading the air' over making blunt choices. Using 選択 shows you are being explicit and clear about your intentions. It is a very 'modern' and 'professional' sounding expression.
Common Variations
You will often see 選択肢 (sentakushi), which means 'options' or 'choices.' Another common one is 最善の選択 (saizen no sentaku), meaning 'the best choice.' If you want to be extra polite in an office, you might say 選択をいたします. In casual texts, you might just see 選択中 (sentakuchu), meaning 'currently selecting.' It is a versatile building block for anyone living a modern life in Japan.
Usage Notes
This phrase is neutral but leans towards formal/written contexts. In casual conversation, the 'o' is often omitted, and 'erabu' is preferred for trivial matters.
Use in Apps
When your phone is in Japanese, look for this phrase on every 'OK' or 'Select' button.
Laundry Trap
If you say 'Sentaku shimasu' at a laundromat, they'll know you mean laundry. At a restaurant, they'll know you mean choice. Context is king!
Noun Power
You can use {選択|せんたく} alone as a noun. '{良|よ}い{選択|せんたく}ですね！' (Good choice!)
Politeness
Using {選択|せんたく} instead of {選|えら}ぶ makes you sound more educated and polite in professional settings.
Examples
6大学で専攻の選択をするのは難しいです。
It is difficult to make a choice of major at university.
Uses the phrase for a serious life decision.
どのキャラクターを選択をする？
Which character are you going to select?
A very common usage in gaming and UI.
我々は最善の選択をする必要があります。
We need to make the best choice.
Shows professional resolve and logic.
メニューの選択、任せるよ！
I'll leave the menu selection to you!
Casual use, dropping the 'o' particle is common here.
二人の間で、ついに選択をする時が来た。
The time has finally come to make a choice between the two.
Adds a dramatic, slightly humorous flair to a personal dilemma.
新しいスマホの選択をするために店に行きました。
I went to the store to make a selection for a new smartphone.
Standard everyday usage for shopping.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct verb form.
メニューから{一|ひと}つ{選択|せんたく}を____ください。
{選択|せんたく}をする is a suru-verb. The 'te-form' for requests is 'shite kudasai'.
Which sentence is the most natural for a formal job interview?
Why did you choose this company?
This uses the formal {選択|せんたく} and the polite 'desu ka' question form.
Match the Japanese phrase to its English meaning.
Match the following:
Understanding these distinctions is key to A1/A2 mastery.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {赤|あか}と{青|あお}、どちらがいいですか？ B: {青|あお}を____。
B is making a choice between two colors.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Sentaku vs. Erabu
Common Objects of {選択|せんたく}
Life
- • Career
- • School
- • Partner
Daily
- • Menu
- • Clothes
- • Route
Practice Bank
4 exercisesメニューから{一|ひと}つ{選択|せんたく}を____ください。
{選択|せんたく}をする is a suru-verb. The 'te-form' for requests is 'shite kudasai'.
Why did you choose this company?
This uses the formal {選択|せんたく} and the polite 'desu ka' question form.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Understanding these distinctions is key to A1/A2 mastery.
A: {赤|あか}と{青|あお}、どちらがいいですか？ B: {青|あお}を____。
B is making a choice between two colors.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsMostly, yes. {選択|せんたく}をする is more formal and often used for logical or digital selections, while {選|えら}ぶ is more casual and general.
Yes, but {選出|せんしゅつ} (elect) is better for official roles. For a date or a friend, use {選|えら}ぶ.
You say '{選択肢|せんたくし}がない' (I have no options) or '{仕方|しかた}がない' (It can't be helped).
Yes, for example, a coach 'selecting' players for a match.
There isn't a direct opposite verb, but '{拒否|きょひ}する' (to reject) or '{放置|ほうち}する' (to leave as is) are often used.
No, that's a common mistake. Always use 'suru' (to do).
Absolutely! It's a fundamental phrase for navigating Japanese interfaces and formal situations.
せんたくをする.
Not necessarily, but it sounds more 'serious' than just picking something up.
Yes, '{味方|みかた}を{選択|せんたく}する' is possible, though '{味方|みかた}をする' is more common.
{選択|せんたく} is picking from options; {決断|けつだん} is making a firm, often difficult, decision.
Yes, especially in 'choice-based' games or dramatic scenes where a character must choose a path.
Related Phrases
{選|えら}ぶ
similarTo choose
{決|き}める
similarTo decide
{選択肢|せんたくし}
builds onOptions/Choices
{意思決定|いしけってい}
specialized formDecision making
{選出|せんしゅつ}する
specialized formTo elect
{抽選|ちゅうせん}
contrastLottery/Random selection
