HSK 5, vn, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1233, Medium
投
tóu
to send
HSK 5, vn, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1233, Medium
投
tóu
to throw oneself (into the river etc)
HSK 5, vn, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1233, Medium
投
tóu
to seek refuge
HSK 5, vn, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1233, Medium
投
tóu
to place oneself into the hands of
HSK 5, vn, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1233, Medium
投
tóu
to pitch, to throw; to bid, to invest
HSK 5, vn, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1233, Medium
tóu(tou2) T2
1to cast
2to send
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March 24, 2026
投tóu(tou2)
The character 投 (tóu) primarily means 'to throw' or 'to cast,' and can refer to both physical actions like throwing an object as well as metaphorical actions such as investing or placing one's trust in something. It is commonly used in contexts like 投资 (tóuzī), meaning 'to invest,' or when discussing throwing oneself into a situation, such as seeking refuge.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#1233DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 投资 (tóuzī) is not just about financial investment; it encompasses investing time and effort into relationships and personal development, reflecting the value placed on long-term commitment.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person throwing a fishing line into the water. The line represents 投 (tóu) as it signifies casting or sending something out. The left side of the character resembles a hand that is throwing, while the right side suggests movement, reinforcing the idea of sending something away.
Meanings of 投
tóu(tou2)
1to cast
2to send
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 投
投Simplified
7Strokes
扌Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#1233Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 投
Podcast: 投
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AI Study Notes for 投
Quick Contrast
投 (tóu) vs 扔 (rēng) — use 投 when emphasizing the act of throwing with intention or purpose, while 扔 focuses more on the act of discarding or throwing away.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person throwing a fishing line into the water. The line represents 投 (tóu) as it signifies casting or sending something out. The left side of the character resembles a hand that is throwing, while the right side suggests movement, reinforcing the idea of sending something away.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tones; 投 (tóu) has a falling tone, which is essential for correct pronunciation. A common mistake is confusing it with the word for 'receive' (收, shōu), which has a different meaning and tone. It is often used in formal contexts like business discussions or investment talks.
HSK Study Tips
While 投 is not a specific HSK level word, it connects well with HSK 4 vocabulary related to business and investment. Focus on using it in phrases that involve action or decision-making, as it often appears in compound words like 投票 (tóupiào, 'to vote') and 投资 (tóuzī, 'to invest').
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 投资 (tóuzī) is not just about financial investment; it encompasses investing time and effort into relationships and personal development, reflecting the value placed on long-term commitment.
Common Mistakes
Learners often incorrectly use 投 in contexts where they should use 送 (sòng), which means 'to send.' For example, saying 投信 (tóuxìn) instead of 送信 (sòngxìn) for 'to send a letter' is a common error.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 投
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Grammar Patterns of 投
投 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Savings schemes are the best retail investment products on offer.
9
这一角色让她全情投入其中。
zhè yī jiǎo sè ràng tā quán qíng tóu rù qí zhōng。
This role gave her something to get her teeth into.
10
今天地方选举的投票一开始就人头攒动。
jīn tiān dì fāng xuǎn jǔ de tóu piào yī kāi shǐ jiù rén tóu zǎn dòng。
There has been a busy start to polling in today's local elections.
Cultural Notes for 投
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, 投资 (tóuzī) is not just about financial investment; it encompasses investing time and effort into relationships and personal development, reflecting the value placed on long-term commitment.
Word Family of 投
Words Containing This Character20
投资tóuzīinvestment投資
投票tóupiàoto vote
投tóuto cast
投入tóurùto throw into
投资者investor投資者
投诉tóusùcomplaint投訴
投降tóuxiángto surrender
投放to input
投篮to shoot for the basket (basketball)投籃
投手thrower
投机tóujīopportunistic投機
投资人investor投資人
投标to bid投標
投产to put into production投產
投稿tóugǎoto contribute (writing)
投身tóushēnto throw oneself into sth
走投无路zǒutóuwúlùin a tight spot走投無路
投保to insure
投影to project
投靠to rely on help from sb
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 投资 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 投
Some common phrases that include 投 are 投资 (tóuzī), meaning 'to invest', and 投诉 (tóusù), which means 'to complain'. These phrases show the versatility of the character in different contexts.
Yes, 投 can be used in idiomatic expressions such as 投桃报李 (tóutáo bàolǐ), which means 'to return a favor'. This highlights the character's broader use in conveying ideas related to reciprocity and exchange.
投 (tóu) means to cast, send, or throw oneself into something. It can also refer to seeking refuge or placing oneself into the hands of someone. This character is commonly used in various contexts, such as 投票 (tóupiào) meaning 'to vote'.
You can use 投 in sentences like '我投了一个票' (wǒ tóu le yīgè piào), which means 'I cast a vote'. Another example is '他投身于慈善工作' (tā tóushēn yú cìshàn gōngzuò), meaning 'He threw himself into charity work'.
You can say 投资股市 (tóuzī gǔshì), meaning 'to invest in the stock market.'
Common phrases include 投票 (tóupiào, 'to vote') and 投诉 (tóusù, 'to file a complaint').
Yes, 投 can be used in both formal discussions about business and informal conversation about throwing or casting.
