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擲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
zhìto throw, to hurl, to fling, to castx, 17 strokes, radical 扌, Very Hard
zhì(zhi4) T4
  1. 1to throw, to hurl, to fling, to cast
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March 24, 2026
zhì(zhi4)

The character 擲 (zhì) means to throw, hurl, or fling something with force. It is often used in contexts involving tossing objects, such as in sports or casual activities. The nuance suggests an action done with intention or effort, often implying a degree of power behind the throw.

Strokes17RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese sports such as javelin throwing or in martial arts, the concept of throwing with precision and power is highly valued, reflecting the importance of skill and technique in physical activities.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person with a strong arm throwing a heavy object. The character 擲 combines the radical 扌 (to hand) with the component 知 (to know), suggesting that you need to know how to throw properly using your hands.

Meanings of 擲

zhì(zhi4)
1to throw, to hurl, to fling, to cast
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 擲

Simplified
17Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 擲

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 擲

Quick Contrast

投 (tóu) - use 投 for throwing with a softer motion or in a more deliberate manner, while 擲 implies a more forceful action.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person with a strong arm throwing a heavy object. The character 擲 combines the radical 扌 (to hand) with the component 知 (to know), suggesting that you need to know how to throw properly using your hands.

Usage Notes

Be aware that 擲 is more formal and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation compared to simpler words like 投 (tóu). It often appears in literature or specific contexts like sports. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 擲 is not included in HSK levels, students should focus on similar action verbs like 投 (tóu) and 扔 (rēng) when studying. Recognizing the nuances between these words will enhance vocabulary and understanding of context.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese sports such as javelin throwing or in martial arts, the concept of throwing with precision and power is highly valued, reflecting the importance of skill and technique in physical activities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 擲 with 投 (tóu) and use it interchangeably in casual contexts, which can sound overly formal. For example, saying '我擲球' instead of '我投球' (I throw the ball) may seem awkward in casual conversation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 擲

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Etymology of 擲

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 郑 represents the sound. Simplified form of 擲.

Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 擲?

Decomposition of 擲

IDS Structure⿰扌鄭
Full Character
=
shou3
left
zheng4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 擲?

Write 擲

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 擲

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese sports such as javelin throwing or in martial arts, the concept of throwing with precision and power is highly valued, reflecting the importance of skill and technique in physical activities.

Word Family of 擲

Words Containing This Character9
zhìto toss
投掷tóuzhìto hurl投擲
孤注一掷to stake all on one throw孤注一擲
一掷千金extravagant一擲千金
掷地有声to have substance擲地有聲
抛掷to throw拋擲
掷骰子to throw the dice擲骰子
掷还please return (an item sent in the mail)擲還
千金一掷extravagant千金一擲
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 掷 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 擲

Common synonyms include 投 (tóu) which means to throw or toss, and 扔 (rēng) which also means to throw but with a more casual connotation.