Source: Make Me a Hanzi.
勾 is a shorter form of 句. Its older shape had 丩, two ropes tangled, and 口, a mark that also supplied sound. The first sense was crooked or curvy, which grew to hook, to lure, and to check off. Read gòu, it again means crooked.
Drawn as: two ropes tangled
Sign in to add this word to your private lists.