What words to express ‘choice’ in Japanese?
選び抜かれた、極上の、選り抜きの、選り抜きの
厳選された、選りすぐった、選りすぐった、高品質な、上等の、とっておきの
辛辣な、失礼な
We can distinguish three meanings of the word ‘choice’ according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries.
Japanese uses different expressions for each meaning.
1. (especially of food) of very good quality
the Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
We can say as follows.
選び抜かれた、極上の、選り抜きの、選り抜きの
厳選された、選りすぐった、選りすぐった、高品質な、上等の、とっておきの
2. (North American English) (of meat) of very good, but not the highest, quality
the Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
We can say as follows.
厳選された、選りすぐった、選りすぐった、高品質な、上等の、とっておきの
3. choice words, phrases, etc. (humorous) rude language that is used deliberately to have an effect
the Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
We can say 辛辣な、失礼な.
Advanced Tips
The following words have the nuance that they’re the best.
選び抜かれた、極上の、選り抜きの、選り抜きの
選び抜かれた、選り抜きの、選り抜きの mean that they were selected after being sifted through many screenings. So, it close to the best.
And 極 means ‘ultimate’ and the combination of 極 and 上 means ‘ultimate top’.
So, if you want to say something in meaning 2, you should avoid using them.
Instead, you can say as follows.
厳選された、選りすぐった、選りすぐった、高品質な、上等の、とっておきの
厳選された、選りすぐった、選りすぐった mean that they’re better than others because we choose them quite carefully.
高品質な、上等の mean high quality.
And とっておきの means things that you’ve saved for the best time.
