He was born in Kyzyltu (near the city of Kokshetau) but moved to Bayanaul in the province of Pavlodar at the age of four.
In 1916 Toraygirov moved to Tomsk in Russia, but the next year the February Revolution made him return to Semey, in Kazakhstan.
Toraygirov released several poem collections and his novel Beauty Kamar, released posthumously in 1933, was one of the first Kazakh language novels.
He was very active politically, advocating both Kazakh national interests and the new Soviet ideals.
The state university in Pavlodar and lake Toraigyr are named after Toraygirov.