投资 (tóuzī)

投资 means to invest money, time, or other resources into something with the expectation of a future return or benefit. It is used in financial, business, and broader metaphorical contexts (such as investing in education or health).

Meanings

[verb] To invest; to put capital into.
[noun] Investment; capital invested.

Example Sentences

他决定将大部分储蓄投资于股票市场，以获取更高的回报。 Tā juédìng jiāng dà bùfen chǔxù tóuzī yú gǔpiào shìchǎng, yǐ huòqǔ gèng gāo de huíbào. He decided to invest most of his savings in the stock market to obtain higher returns.

这个地区吸引了大量外国投资，经济发展迅速。 Zhège dìqū xīyǐn le dàliàng wàiguó tóuzī, jīngjì fāzhǎn xùnsù. This region attracted a large amount of foreign investment, and the economy developed rapidly.

在教育上的投资是对未来最有价值的投资之一。 Zài jiàoyù shàng de tóuzī shì duì wèilái zuì yǒu jiàzhí de tóuzī zhī yī. Investment in education is one of the most valuable investments for the future.

政府加大了对基础设施建设的投资力度。 Zhèngfǔ jiādà le duì jīchǔ shèshī jiànshè de tóuzī lìdù. The government increased the intensity of its investment in infrastructure development.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
外资投资	foreign investment
投资回报	return on investment
投资风险	investment risk
吸引投资	attract investment
加大投资	increase investment

Usage Notes

投资 can be used metaphorically for non-financial resources: 投资时间 (invest time), 投资精力 (invest energy). As a formal noun in economic contexts, it combines with other words: 投资者 (investor), 投资环境 (investment environment), 外商直接投资 (foreign direct investment). The preposition pattern 向 X 投资 or 在 X 上投资 specifies the target of investment.

Memory Hook

投 means "to throw/cast" and 资 means "resources/capital." Investing is casting your resources into the future and hoping they land somewhere productive.