Translation guide
The English word 'picking' covers several distinct actions: selecting/choosing, physically plucking or harvesting, removing small pieces, and even lock-picking. This guide helps learners express each meaning naturally in Japanese.
To pick one or more items from a set of options, such as choosing a number, a color, or a person for a team.
The most common and general verb for 'choose' or 'select'. Used for picking anything from a menu, a candidate, a gift, etc.
好きな色を選んでください。
Please pick your favorite color.
彼は新しい車を選ぶのに時間がかかった。
He took a long time picking a new car.
Formal term for 'select' or 'elect', often used for picking representatives or committee members.
委員会は新しい議長を選出した。
The committee picked a new chairperson.
Loanword from English 'pick up', used in casual contexts for selecting or choosing, especially in media or informal settings.
この曲をプレイリストにピックアップした。
I picked this song for the playlist.
To remove something from where it grows or is attached, such as picking fruit, flowers, or mushrooms.
Used for picking small things with fingers, like flowers, tea leaves, or herbs. Also means 'to pinch'.
庭でバラを摘んだ。
I picked roses in the garden.
春には山菜を摘みに行きます。
In spring, we go picking wild vegetables.
To pick by twisting or pulling off, often used for fruit from trees. More forceful than 摘む.
General verb for 'harvest', used for crops. Implies gathering a yield, not just a single item.
秋に米を収穫します。
We harvest rice in autumn.
To remove small bits from something, or to repeatedly touch and pull at something (like a scab or loose thread).
To pick at, dig out, or poke at something with fingers or a tool. Often used for picking one's nose, teeth, or a scab.
傷口をほじってはいけません。
Don't pick at the wound.
彼は鼻をほじっていた。
He was picking his nose.
To poke, peck, or pick at something lightly and repeatedly. Can be used for picking at food or a loose thread.
To pluck, tear off, or pick (feathers, hair, grass). Implies a pulling motion.
鶏の羽をむしる。
To pick feathers from a chicken.
To open a lock without a key, using tools.
Direct loanword for 'lock-picking'. Commonly used in crime contexts.
彼はドアをピッキングして侵入した。
He picked the lock and broke in.
To force a lock open, not necessarily with picking tools. More general 'break open'.
泥棒は鍵をこじ開けた。
The burglar picked the lock.
To lift something from a surface or to collect someone/something from a place.
To pick up something from the ground or a surface. Also means 'to find' or 'to gather'.
落ちているゴミを拾った。
I picked up the trash on the ground.
To go to pick someone up (e.g., from a station or airport).
駅まで迎えに行くよ。
I'll pick you up at the station.
To pick up or take up (an object, a topic). Can also mean 'to confiscate'.
摘む is for delicate picking with fingertips (flowers, tea). もぎ取る is for twisting off fruit from stems. 収穫する is for harvesting crops in general.
English 'pick' in the sense of 'choose' should not be translated as ピックする in most contexts. Use 選ぶ instead. ピックアップする is acceptable in casual IT/media contexts but sounds unnatural in formal writing.
リンゴをもぎ取った。
I picked an apple (from the tree).
She was picking at her salad.
彼は電話を取り上げた。
He picked up the phone.