钩

• Pinyin: gōu
• Hanzi breakdown: 钅= 金 (metal radical); 勾 = 厶 + 勹 (curved hook shape) — a metal hook

Meaning

To hook; to catch with a hook; to snag. To fasten, pull, or catch using a hook or hook-like motion.

Used for physically hooking or snagging objects (e.g., a fishing hook catching a fish, a garment snagging on a nail). Also used figuratively for 'hooking' someone's attention or interest (钩住了他的注意力). Distinct from 勾 in that 钩 more often refers to a hook as a physical tool or the specific hooking action, while 勾 is more broadly figurative.

Examples

1. 他把渔线用力甩出，鱼钩精准地落在预定水域，静待鱼儿上钩。 He cast the line hard; the hook landed precisely in the intended waters as he waited quietly for a fish to bite.
2. 毛衣上的一根线被门把手钩住，她只好小心翼翼地把它解开。 A strand of her sweater snagged on the doorknob, so she had to carefully work it loose.
3. 那幅神秘的油画从一开始就钩住了参观者的好奇心，让人久久驻足。 That mysterious oil painting hooked visitors’ curiosity from the very start, making them linger for a long time.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, fishing, crafts, figurative

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 用挂钩把包包钩在衣帽架上，以免放在地上被弄脏。(Use the hook to hang your bag on the coat rack so it doesn't get dirty on the floor.)
• 这部悬疑小说开篇就以惊险的情节钩住了读者，让人欲罢不能。(This thriller hooks readers right from the opening with its gripping plot, making it impossible to put down.)

Don't Say

• 将'钩'与'勾'完全混用 — 钩 emphasises a physical hook or snagging action; 勾 is more often used figuratively (勾起回忆 to evoke memories, 勾结 to collude); check the specific collocation before choosing

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 钅(metal radical) + 勾 (hooked shape). A metal hook or the action of hooking.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal