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投射 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
投射tóushèto throw (a projectile)HSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #20594, Very Hard
投射tóushèto cast (light)HSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #20594, Very Hard
tóushè(tou2she4)tou she T2
  1. 1to throw (a projectile)
  2. 2to cast (light)
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March 24, 2026

投射tóushè(tou2she4)

投射 (tóu shè) means to throw or cast something, often referring to projectiles or beams of light. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical actions, such as throwing balls, or metaphorical ones, like casting ideas or images in discussions.

Strokes17Frequency#20594DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

投射 can relate to traditional Chinese shadow play, where light is cast on puppets to create storytelling, reflecting a cultural appreciation for visual arts and performance.

Memory tip

Imagine you are throwing a spotlight (投 - tóu, meaning 'to throw') onto a stage (射 - shè, meaning 'to shoot' or 'cast'). Picture the light illuminating the performers, which helps you remember both the action of throwing and its application in casting light.

Meanings of 投射

tóushè(tou2she4)
1to throw (a projectile)
2to cast (light)
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About 投射

投射Simplified
17Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 投射

Quick Contrast

投影 (tóuyǐng) — use 投射 for physical throwing or casting, while 投影 is specifically for projecting images or shadows.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tones; '投' (tóu) is second tone and '射' (shè) is fourth tone. A common mistake is using '投' in contexts that don't involve a direct action, such as saying '投射' for abstract concepts without a physical element. In formal contexts, this word is appropriate for scientific discussions.

HSK Study Tips

Even though 投射 is not in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK 3 and 4 words like '投球' (tóu qiú - to throw a ball) and '光' (guāng - light). Focus on the actions related to throwing and casting, as they are foundational for understanding related verbs.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is using 投射 when talking about ideas without a physical aspect, such as saying '我投射我的意见' (Wǒ tóu shè wǒ de yìjiàn - I throw my opinions), which should be '我表达我的意见' (Wǒ biǎodá wǒ de yìjiàn - I express my opinions).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 投射

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Component characters

投tóuto cast
HSK 57 strokes扌
View full entry
射shèto shoot, to eject, to emit
HSK 610 strokes寸
View full entry

How to say to throw (a projectile) in Chinese

“to throw (a projectile)” in Chinese is投射tóushè

投射 (tóu shè) means to throw or cast something, often referring to projectiles or beams of light. It is commonly used in contexts involving physical actions, such as throwing balls, or metaphorical ones, like casting ideas or images in discussions.

When to use 投射

Be careful with the tones; '投' (tóu) is second tone and '射' (shè) is fourth tone. A common mistake is using '投' in contexts that don't involve a direct action, such as saying '投射' for abstract concepts without a physical element. In formal contexts, this word is appropriate for scientific discussions.

投射 or something close to it

投影 (tóuyǐng) — use 投射 for physical throwing or casting, while 投影 is specifically for projecting images or shadows.

What learners get wrong

A frequent error is using 投射 when talking about ideas without a physical aspect, such as saying '我投射我的意见' (Wǒ tóu shè wǒ de yìjiàn - I throw my opinions), which should be '我表达我的意见' (Wǒ biǎodá wǒ de yìjiàn - I express my opinions).

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射

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Frequently asked questions about 投射

No, it can also describe abstract concepts, like projecting one's thoughts or emotions.

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