Japanese kanji 投: throwing, voting and putting in

The idea

投 has 7 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 投げる is read なげる, while 投手, 投票 and 投入 begin with とう. The table puts each word in context.

Examples

• 友達ともだちにボールを投なげます。I throw the ball to my friend.
• 川かわに石いしを投なげないでください。Please do not throw stones into the river.
• 投手とうしゅは速はやいボールを投なげます。The pitcher throws a fast ball.
• 明日あした、投票とうひょうします。I will vote tomorrow.
• 機械きかいに硬貨こうかを投入とうにゅうしてください。Put a coin into the machine.
• 彼女かのじょは紙かみを箱はこに投なげました。She threw the paper into the box.

Watch out

投げる means to throw; 投票 means to vote, and 投入 means to put something in. Do not assume every compound describes a physical throw. Compare 投 with 持.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 投げる in hiragana.

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   なげる

   投げる is なげる: use it for throwing, as in throwing a ball to a friend.

2. Write the reading of 投票 in hiragana.

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   とうひょう

   投票 is とうひょう: 投票する means to vote. Learn the compound together.

3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿入（とうにゅう）［投／持］.

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   投

   投 completes 投入（とうにゅう）, putting something in, such as a coin in a machine.

Use it today

Write 投 following the diagram. Cover the table, read 投げる and 投票, and make a sentence with one.