Usage of 投
The character 投 primarily means "to throw" or "to pitch," often used in sports contexts like throwing a ball. It also extends metaphorically to "investing" money or resources, and "submitting" or "putting" something into a container or place.
Common Collocations
- 投球 (tóu qiú): to pitch a ball, used in baseball or similar sports.
- 投资 (tóu zī): to invest, commonly used in finance and business.
- 投票 (tóu piào): to cast a vote, used in elections.
- 投递 (tóu dì): to deliver or submit mail or documents.
Notes
When using 投 to mean "throw," it often implies a deliberate or forceful action. In investment contexts, 投 is combined with 资 to form 投资, a very common term. For submission or delivery, 投 is often paired with words like 递 or 表 (form). Avoid confusing 投 with 抛 (pāo), which also means "to throw" but often implies tossing lightly or casually.