throw, discard, abandon, launch into, join, invest in, hurl, give up, sell at a loss
投 centers on sending something away from oneself with force or intention: throwing, hurling, discarding, or abandoning. Extended senses like launching into an activity, joining, or investing in something share the idea of directing oneself or resources outward, while selling at a loss is a financial abandonment.
投 combines 扌 (hand) with 殳, a component associated with striking or action. The character likely expresses the idea of throwing or casting with the hand.
The left side is a hand 扌, and the right side 殳 suggests a striking tool. Picture a hand throwing a tool or weapon, sending it flying away.
For トウ, imagine throwing a toe-shaped object: toe -> トウ, and your hand hurls it across the room.
contribution (to a newspaper, magazine, etc.); submission; post (on a blog, social media, etc.)
voting; ballot; poll; vote
investment
throw; throwing
throwing in; inserting; depositing (e.g. a ballot)
pitcher
throwing down; dropping; airdrop
to throw; to hurl; to fling; to toss; to cast
administration (of medicine); giving medication
projection (of a shadow); casting (a reflection); reflection; cast shadow
pitching; throwing a ball; bowling (in cricket); pitched ball
surrender
abandonment; giving up; throwing away; disposal; dumping
pitching in consecutive games
administration; medication; dosage
speculation; venture; stockjobbing; gambling (on stocks)
to throw; to cast (e.g. vote, light, shadow)
mailing; posting
going the whole distance; pitching a whole game
investment trust
good (nice) pitching
stone throwing
projection (of an image)
letter (e.g. of complaint); letter to the editor; letter from a reader
to throw down; to throw out; to stretch out (one's legs)
to throw into
relieving the (starting) pitcher
throwing oneself (e.g. into the water to commit suicide)
investment and lending
pitching with all one's strength
overhand throw
underhand throw
absentee ballot; absentee voting
national referendum
pitching duel; pitchers' battle
polling place; polling station
ballot box
investment trust; mutual fund
final vote; run-off ballot
without a vote
Fiscal Investment and Loan Program; FILP