勾
Character learning workspace

gōu · to hook, to join, to connect

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 7-9Frequency #6157
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 勾

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 勾 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

4Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Upper-right enclosureCharacter structure

Keep the outer frame stable without crowding the enclosed strokes.

勹Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 勾 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 勾

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

gōuWords pronounced gōu
gòuWords pronounced gòu
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 勾 sits in each complete thought.

Zài zhège shí hòu, tǐ yù shì jiè yīngdāng jiǎn shǎo fàn zuì zǔ zhī de gōu jié.在这个时候,体育世界应当减少犯罪组织的勾结。

The sports world should, at this time, eliminate the collusion with criminal organizations.

Source: Tatoeba #1873121 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zài wǎng shàng gōu rén bǐ zài jiē shàng róng yì.在网上勾人比在街上容易。

It is easier to hit on people on the Internet than in the street.

Source: Tatoeba #502852 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ bú yuàn yì gōu qǐ jiǔ yuǎn de huí yì.我不愿意勾起久远的回忆。

I don't want to stir up old memories.

Source: Tatoeba #9518683 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè shǒu gē gōu qǐ le wǒ tóng nián de huí yì.這首歌勾起了我童年的回憶。

This song reminds me of my childhood.

Source: Tatoeba #422006 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nà shǒu gē zǒng shì gōu qǐ wǒ zhōng xué shí dài de huí yì.那首歌總是勾起我中學時代的回憶。

Every time I hear that song, I think of my high school days.

Source: Tatoeba #459967 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè xiē yīn lè gōu qǐ le wǒ ér shí de huí yì.這些音樂勾起了我兒時的回憶。

The music carried me back to my childhood.

Source: Tatoeba #339490 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 勾 in context

  1. Say gōu, then recall the core meaning: to hook, to join, to connect.
  2. Write all 4 strokes while keeping the upper-right enclosure balanced.
  3. Use it in 勾结 (gōu jié), meaning “to collude with”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 勾 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.