投 (tóu) — to throw, to cast (a vote, a glance); to submit, to send (a manuscript, an application); to throw oneself, to seek refuge
Definition
投 (tóu) covers two main uses: physical throwing (votes, glances) and figurative 'sending' (submitting an application, seeking refuge). 抛 is purely physical throwing with force; 投 also extends to the act of placing oneself somewhere.
verb
to throwto cast (a vote, a glance)to submitto send (a manuscript, an application)to throw oneselfto seek refuge
Examples
- 投。Dà jiā tóu le zàn chéng piào.Everyone cast a favorable vote.
- 投。Tā tóu le jiǎn lì gěi jǐ jiā gōng sī.He submitted his resume to several companies.
- ，。Tā zǒu tóu wú lù, zhǐ hǎo tóu kào yuǎn fāng de qīn qi.He was at his wit's end and had to seek refuge with a distant relative.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
殳
殳shū投tóu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The left part 扌 shows a hand, and the right part 殳 gives the sound of the character.
Appears in
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