投机

投機

tóujī

verb HSK 7-9 #17,885

Meanings

1 to speculate (financially)
2 to be opportunistic
3 to hit it off

Characters

to throw; to cast

opportunity; machine

Examples

他靠投机赚了不少钱。

Tā kào tóujī zhuàn le bùshǎo qián.

He made a lot of money through speculation.

两人一见如故，非常投机。

Liǎng rén yījiànrúgù, fēicháng tóujī.

The two hit it off immediately as if they were old friends.

Tips

usage

投机 has two distinct meanings: (1) financial speculation or opportunism (negative), and (2) hitting it off with someone (positive). Context determines which.

memory

投 (throw) + 机 (opportunity) = throwing yourself at opportunities. Negative: opportunism. Positive: finding the right moment to connect.

Stroke Order

投 tóu

机 jī