投

• Pinyin: tóu
• Hanzi breakdown: 投 = 扌(hand) + 殳 (weapon/tool, phonetic)

Meaning

To throw; to cast; to deliver; to vote.

The core meaning is to throw or toss something in a directed way. Extended into many compounds: 投票 (to vote), 投递 (to deliver mail), 投资 (to invest), 投诉 (to file a complaint). Context determines the exact nuance. A very productive character in Chinese vocabulary.

Examples

1. 他把球投进了篮筐，全场响起一片欢呼声。 He threw the ball into the basket and the whole court erupted in cheers.
2. 请大家把票投进投票箱里，每人只能投一票。 Please put your ballot into the ballot box — each person may only vote once.
3. 她把信封好之后投进了路边的邮筒。 After sealing the envelope, she dropped the letter into the postbox by the road.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, civic, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请把你的一票投给最合适的候选人。(Please cast your vote for the most suitable candidate.)
• 他把石子投进了湖里。(He threw a pebble into the lake.)

Don't Say

• 投 alone rarely stands by itself in modern speech — pair it with its common compounds (投票, 投递, 投资) to communicate clearly.

Origin & History

The character 投 combines 扌(hand radical) and 殳 (a tool or weapon used for striking/throwing), reflecting the original meaning of hurling an object with the hand.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal