投 (tóu) - to throw & to cast

投Tone 2

tóu ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 扌

婷婉

投 · tóu

to throw;

to cast;

to hurl;

to put in;

to submit;

to send;

to join

to throwto castto hurl

Usage highlights

to throwto investto voteto submitto jointo cast a shadow

Synonyms

  • 扔— to throw, to toss
  • 掷— to cast, to throw
  • 抛— to fling, to cast away

Antonyms

  • 接— to catch, to receive
  • 收— to collect, to receive

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He threw the ball into the basket (投篮).
  • She invested money in the stock market (投资).
  • He submitted his resume to the company (投简历).
  • They voted in the election (投票).

Collocations

  • to throw(投掷)
  • to invest(投资)
  • to vote(投票)
  • to submit(投稿)
  • to join(投靠)
  • to cast a shadow(投影)

Idioms

  • Cast oneself into the net(自投罗网)
  • Like a stone thrown into the sea(石投大海)
  • Throw oneself into the arms of someone(投怀送抱)
  • Cast a stone to attract jade(投石问路)
  • Birds of a feather flock together(意气相投)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character combines the hand radical (扌) with the phonetic component 殳 (ancient weapon), suggesting the action of throwing with force.
  • In traditional culture, '投' carries connotations of decisive action, whether in military strategy (投石车 - catapult) or social relationships (投缘 - congenial).
  • The concept appears in philosophical contexts like '投其所好' (cater to someone's tastes), reflecting strategic social interaction.

FAQ