tóu lán: 投篮 - To shoot a basketball, Basketball shot

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 投篮 (tóu lán), which means “to shoot a basketball.” This guide breaks down the characters 投 (tóu - to throw) and 篮 (lán - basket) to show you how this word literally means “throw at the basket.” Discover its cultural significance in a country obsessed with basketball, see 10 practical example sentences, and understand the key difference between 投篮 (tóu lán) (to shoot) and 打篮球 (dǎ lánqiú) (to play basketball). This is your complete resource for talking about shooting hoops in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tóu lán
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Compound (can function as a verb or a noun)
• HSK Level: N/A (but a very common and essential word for everyday life)
• Concise Definition: To shoot a basketball; the act of shooting a basketball.
• In a Nutshell: 投篮 (tóu lán) is the direct, universal term for the action of shooting a basketball. It's a highly descriptive word, combining the action of “throwing” with the target, the “basket.” Whether you're a kid on a playground, an amateur player, or a professional commentator, this is the fundamental word you will use.

• 投 (tóu): This character's primary meaning is “to throw,” “to pitch,” or “to cast.” Think of it as the action of propelling something forward with your hand. You also see it in words like 投票 (tóupiào), “to vote” (literally “to throw a ticket”).
• 篮 (lán): This character means “basket.” It's the same character used in the word for basketball itself, 篮球 (lánqiú), which literally means “basket ball.”
• The characters combine perfectly to mean “to throw at the basket,” which is exactly what shooting a basketball is. The logic is direct and easy for learners to remember.

Basketball is arguably the most popular sport in China. The influence of the NBA, and especially Chinese icon Yao Ming, has made it a national passion. Consequently, the word 投篮 (tóu lán) is a part of the daily lexicon for millions of people. Unlike the English word “shoot,” which can refer to guns, cameras, or even sharp pains, 投篮 (tóu lán) is exclusively used for basketball. This specificity highlights a key difference in how the languages are constructed. English often uses a single, versatile verb, while Chinese frequently creates specific compound words for specific actions. In American culture, we might say “let's shoot some hoops” as a casual invitation. The Chinese equivalent, “我们去投篮吧 (Wǒmen qù tóu lán ba),” carries the exact same feeling of a friendly, informal activity. The word is deeply embedded in the social fabric of play and competition, from schoolyards to national broadcasts on CCTV-5 (the main sports channel).

投篮 (tóu lán) is used in virtually any context involving basketball.

• As a Verb: It describes the action of shooting.
  • `他正在练习投篮。` (Tā zhèngzài liànxí tóu lán.) - He is practicing shooting.
• As a Noun: It can refer to the shot itself.
  • `他最后的那个投篮太漂亮了！` (Tā zuìhòu de nàge tóu lán tài piàoliang le!) - That final shot of his was so beautiful!

It is a neutral term, but its connotation can be changed with adjectives.

• Positive: `一个精准的投篮` (yī gè jīngzhǔn de tóu lán) - an accurate shot
• Negative: `一个糟糕的投篮` (yī gè zāogāo de tóu lán) - a terrible shot

The word is appropriate in both very informal (chatting with friends) and formal (sports news) situations.

• Example 1:
  • 我弟弟每天都去公园投篮。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ dìdi měitiān dōu qù gōngyuán tóu lán.
  • English: My little brother goes to the park to shoot hoops every day.
  • Analysis: This shows the most common use of 投篮 as a simple activity.
• Example 2:
  • 你的投篮姿势非常标准。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de tóu lán zīshì fēicháng biāozhǔn.
  • English: Your shooting form is very standard/textbook.
  • Analysis: Here, 投篮 is used as a noun, modified by the noun 姿势 (zīshì), meaning “posture” or “form.”
• Example 3:
  • 比赛只剩三秒了，他必须完成最后一投！
  • Pinyin: Bǐsài zhǐ shèng sān miǎo le, tā bìxū wánchéng zuìhòu yī tóu!
  • English: There are only three seconds left in the game, he has to make the final shot!
  • Analysis: In fast-paced commentary, 投篮 is often shortened to just 投 (tóu). This is very common in sports contexts.
• Example 4:
  • 我们下午去投篮怎么样？
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xiàwǔ qù tóu lán zěnmeyàng?
  • English: How about we go shoot some hoops this afternoon?
  • Analysis: A perfect example of a casual invitation, similar to “Wanna shoot some hoops?”
• Example 5:
  • 教练正在教孩子们如何正确投篮。
  • Pinyin: Jiàoliàn zhèngzài jiāo háizi men rúhé zhèngquè tóu lán.
  • English: The coach is teaching the children how to shoot a basketball correctly.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates its use in a more instructional or technical context.
• Example 6:
  • 尽管他很高，但他的投篮命中率不高。
  • Pinyin: Jǐnguǎn tā hěn gāo, dàn tā de tóu lán mìngzhònglǜ bù gāo.
  • English: Although he is very tall, his shooting percentage is not high.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 投篮 as part of a technical term, 投篮命中率 (tóu lán mìngzhònglǜ), or “shooting percentage.”
• Example 7:
  • 哇，一个超远距离的投篮！
  • Pinyin: Wā, yī gè chāo yuǎn jùlí de tóu lán!
  • English: Wow, a shot from super far away!
  • Analysis: This is an exclamation you might hear from a fan or commentator watching a game.
• Example 8:
  • 我今天手感不好，一个投篮都没进。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān shǒugǎn bù hǎo, yī gè tóu lán dōu méi jìn.
  • English: I'm not feeling it today (my hand-feel is bad), I didn't make a single shot.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces the related concept of 手感 (shǒugǎn), or “hand-feel,” which is crucial for a good shooting day.
• Example 9:
  • 他假装要投篮，然后传球给了队友。
  • Pinyin: Tā jiǎzhuāng yào tóu lán, ránhòu chuánqiú gěi le duìyǒu.
  • English: He faked a shot, and then passed the ball to his teammate.
  • Analysis: This shows how 投篮 is used to describe specific in-game actions like a “shot fake.”
• Example 10:
  • 只要你多练习投篮，你就会变得更强。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào nǐ duō liànxí tóu lán, nǐ jiù huì biànde gèng qiáng.
  • English: As long as you practice shooting more, you will become stronger.
  • Analysis: A simple, encouraging sentence about the importance of practice.

• `投篮 (tóu lán)` vs. `打篮球 (dǎ lánqiú)`: This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • `打篮球 (dǎ lánqiú)` means “to play basketball.” It refers to the entire game or activity, including dribbling, passing, and defending.
  • `投篮 (tóu lán)` means “to shoot the basketball.” It is only one specific action within the game.
  • Correct: `我们去公园打篮球吧。` (Let's go to the park to play basketball.)
  • Correct: `我只是想自己练习一下投篮。` (I just want to practice shooting by myself.)
  • Incorrect: `我们去公园投篮吧。` (This is only correct if you mean you are ONLY going to shoot, not play a game. It's less common as a general invitation than `打篮球`.)
• Exclusively for Basketball: An English speaker might be tempted to use 投篮 for other “shooting” actions. This is incorrect.
  • To shoot a gun is `开枪 (kāi qiāng)`.
  • To shoot an arrow is `射箭 (shè jiàn)`.
  • To shoot a film is `拍电影 (pāi diànyǐng)`.
  • 投篮 (tóu lán) is only for throwing a basketball at a hoop.

• 篮球 (lánqiú) - Basketball. The object itself.
• 打篮球 (dǎ lánqiú) - To play basketball. The general activity that includes `投篮`.
• 灌篮 (guànlán) - To dunk (lit. “to pour into the basket”). A powerful and specific type of shot.
• 上篮 (shànglán) - To do a layup (lit. “to go up to the basket”).
• 罚球 (fáqiú) - Free throw (lit. “penalty ball”).
• 三分球 (sānfēnqiú) - Three-point shot (lit. “three point ball”).
• 篮筐 (lánkuāng) - The basketball rim or hoop. The target of a `投篮`.
• 篮板 (lánbǎn) - The backboard. It can also mean “rebound” (as in, `抢篮板 qiǎng lánbǎn` - to grab a rebound).
• 进球 (jìnqiú) - To score a goal/basket (lit. “to enter the ball”). The successful result of a `投篮`.
• 球员 (qiúyuán) - Player (ball player). The person who performs the `投篮`.