投 meaning and stroke order
To throw (sth in a specific direction: ball, javelin, grenade etc); to cast (a ballot); to cast (a glance, a shadow etc)
How to write 投, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 投
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to throw (sth in a specific direction: ball, javelin, grenade etc)
- to cast (a ballot)
- to cast (a glance, a shadow etc)
- to put in (money for investment, a coin to operate a slot machine)
- to send (a letter, a manuscript etc)
- to throw oneself into (a river, a well etc to commit suicide)
How 投 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Hand.
扌 gives the meaning and 殳 hints at the sound.
Radical: 扌 (hand), shared by 342 characters on this site.
How to remember 投
投 has the hand radical 扌 on the left and 殳 (shū) on the right, which gives the sound. Picture a hand gripping something and throwing it forward.
投 means to throw or cast, and it extends to putting things in, like money, votes, or letters. It appears most often in words such as 投资 (tóuzī, to invest), 投票 (tóupiào, to vote), and 投诉 (tóusù, to complain). Example: 他把球投进了篮筐。(Tā bǎ qiú tóu jìn le lánkuāng.) He threw the ball into the hoop.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 投 with 设 (shè, to set up), because both have 殳 on the right. 投 has the hand radical 扌, while 设 has the speech radical 讠.
Common words with 投
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 投资 | tóuzī | investment; to invest | HSK 4 |
| 投入 | tóurù | to throw into; to put into | HSK 4 |
| 投诉 | tóusù | to lodge a complaint | HSK 4 |
| 投票 | tóupiào | to vote; to cast a vote | HSK 6 |
| 投降 | tóuxiáng | to surrender | HSK 7-9 |
| 走投无路 | zǒutóu-wúlù | to be at an impasse (idiom); in a tight spot | HSK 7-9 |
| 投机 | tóujī | congenial; agreeable; to speculate; to profiteer | HSK 7-9 |
| 投射 | tóushè | to throw (a projectile); to cast (light) | HSK 7-9 |
| 投身 | tóushēn | to throw oneself into sth | HSK 7-9 |
| 投奔 | tóubèn | to seek shelter; to seek asylum | HSK 7-9 |
| 投稿 | tóugǎo | to submit articles for publication; to contribute (writing) | HSK 7-9 |
| 投手 | tóushǒu | thrower; pitcher | |
| 投资者 | tóuzīzhě | investor | |
| 投篮 | tóulán | (basketball) to shoot for the basket |
投 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 投
How many strokes are in 投?
投 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 投 mean?
投 (tóu) means to throw (sth in a specific direction: ball, javelin, grenade etc); to cast (a ballot); to cast (a glance, a shadow etc). A common word with it is 投资 (tóuzī), meaning "investment; to invest".
How do you pronounce 投?
投 is pronounced tóu, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 投?
The radical of 投 is 扌, which carries the idea of "hand". Dictionaries list 投 under this radical.
Is 投 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 投 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 投 and 扔?
扔 (rēng) is casual and often means tossing something away, like 扔垃圾 (rēng lājī, throw out trash). 投 suggests aiming at a target or putting something into a place, as in 投篮 (tóulán, shoot a basket) or 投票 (tóupiào, cast a vote).
What does 投 mean in 投机?
投机 (tóujī) has two senses. It can mean to speculate for profit, which is negative, or it can describe people who get along well, as in 谈得很投机 (tán de hěn tóujī, the conversation went very well).