投降
tóuxiáng
To surrender in Chinese is 投降 (tóuxiáng).
The verb 投降 means to give oneself up into the power of another. It can also be used as a noun to mean an act of surrendering.
Meaning: intransitive or reflexive: to give oneself up into the power of another (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 投降 is composed of 投 (to throw/cast) and 降 (to descend/yield/surrender).
Which one should you use?
While 投降 focuses on the act of the person surrendering, 降服 emphasizes the act of subduing or bringing someone else under control. In a noun context, you may also see 投降 used to mean an act of surrendering.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
投降 is an intransitive verb and does not take a direct object. You cannot 'surrender something' using this specific word.
How do you pronounce it?
tóuxiáng
Did you know?
- The character 投 in 投降 also appears in the word for 'voting' 投票, as both involve the act of 'casting' or 'throwing' something.
- The word 投降 is often used in modern Chinese video games or internet slang to describe 'giving up' on a difficult task, similar to how English speakers might say they are 'throwing in the towel'.
- While English uses 'surrender' for both people and objects, the Chinese language uses different verbs for surrendering a city or a fortress than it does for a person.
Examples in context
- 我寧死也不投降。I would rather die than surrender.This sentence is useful for expressing a refusal to surrender.Tatoeba #3705014 by egg0073, translation #241205 by CC
- 限你三分鐘內投降You have three minutes to surrender.This sentence is useful for issuing an ultimatum to surrender.Tatoeba #7432364 by zzztat, translation #3726312 by CM
- 薩米只有投降一途Sami had no choice but to surrender.This sentence is useful for describing a situation where surrender was the only option.Tatoeba #7432372 by zzztat, translation #6177325 by OsoHombre
- 他们决定投降，以确保劳民伤财的战争能够尽快结束。They decided to surrender to ensure that the costly war could end as soon as possible.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are playing a competitive video game.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你快投降吧。Nǐ kuài tóuxiáng ba.Just surrender already.
- 伟 Wei我絕對不會投降。Wǒ juéduì bù huì tóuxiáng.I will definitely not surrender.
- 佳怡 Jiayi可是你快輸了。Kěshì nǐ kuài shū le.But you are about to lose.
- 伟 Wei我還能再戰。Wǒ hái néng zài zhàn.I can still fight.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “surrender” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
