勾 meaning and stroke order
To attract; to arouse; to tick
How to write 勾, stroke by stroke
4 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Meaning of 勾
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to attract
- to arouse
- to tick
- to strike out
- to delineate
- to collude
- used in 勾當|勾当[gou4 dang4]
How 勾 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 勹 (wrap), shared by 14 characters on this site.
How to remember 勾
The outer part 勹 curves around like a hook, and the small 厶 inside looks like something caught on it. Picture a hook snagging a little object to remember 勾 (gōu), to hook or connect.
勾 often appears in words about drawing, ticking, or pulling something out, and also in negative words about secret deals or seduction, like 勾结 (gōujié) and 勾引 (gōuyǐn). Example: 这首歌勾起了我的回忆。(Zhè shǒu gē gōuqǐ le wǒ de huíyì.) This song brought back my memories.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 勾 with 句 (jù, sentence), which has 口 inside instead of 厶. Also remember that 勾当 is read gòudàng with a fourth tone, not gōu.
Common words with 勾
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 勾结 | gōujié | to collude with; to collaborate with | HSK 7-9 |
| 勾画 | gōuhuà | to sketch out; to delineate | HSK 7-9 |
| 勾引 | gōuyǐn | to seduce; to tempt | |
| 勾搭 | gōuda | to gang up; to fool around with | |
| 勾当 | gòudàng | shady business | |
| 勾拳 | gōuquán | hook (punch in boxing) | |
| 一笔勾销 | yībǐgōuxiāo | to write off at one stroke | |
| 勾起 | gōuqǐ | to evoke; to induce |
勾 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 勾
Learning 勾 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 勾
How many strokes are in 勾?
勾 is written with 4 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 勾 mean?
勾 (gōu) means to attract; to arouse; to tick. A common word with it is 勾结 (gōujié), meaning "to collude with; to collaborate with".
How do you pronounce 勾?
勾 is pronounced gōu, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 勾?
The radical of 勾 is 勹, which carries the idea of "wrap". Dictionaries list 勾 under this radical.
Is 勾 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 勾 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
How do you say to tick a box with 勾?
You can say 打勾 (dǎ gōu) or 打个勾 for making a check mark. For example, 在对的答案上打勾 means tick the correct answer.
Does 勾 always have a negative meaning?
No. Words like 勾画 (gōuhuà, to sketch out) and 勾起 (gōuqǐ, to evoke) are neutral. Words like 勾结, 勾引 and 勾当 do carry a negative sense of collusion, seduction or shady dealings.