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JLPT N14画 · 4 strokesradical 勹

be bent, slope, capture

On'yomi (音読み)

  • コウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • かぎ
  • ま.がる

Mnemonic

Picture a crooked hook (勾) capturing fish as it bends with the current, demonstrating how something can be both bent and effective in catching.

About this kanji

The kanji 勾 primarily means to bend or slope and can also refer to capturing or arresting. It is typically used in noun forms. A few common compounds include 勾配 (こうばい), which means slope, and 勾引 (こういん), meaning arrest. 勾玉 (まがたま) refers to a traditional Japanese curved bead. This kanji captures the idea of something that isn't straight but rather curves or bends. An interesting usage note is that 勾引 is often used in legal contexts, so it's important to recognize its formal nature when discussing law enforcement.

Example sentences

  • その曲線は勾配が美しい。

    The curve has a beautiful gradient.

Meanings across languages

English
be bent, slope, capture
Tiếng Việt
bẻ cong, dốc, bắt giữ
日本語
曲がる, 傾斜, 捕らえる
한국어
구부러지다, 기울다, 잡다
中文
勾曲, 倾斜, 捕获
id
miring
th
ลาด
es
inclinación
fr
pente
de
neigen
pt
inclinado

Common compounds

  • 勾配こうばいslope, incline, gradient
  • 勾玉まがたまmagatama, comma-shaped bead from prehistoric Japan, usually made of jade
  • 勾引こういんarrest, custody, apprehending
  • 勾留こうりゅうdetention pending trial, confinement, custody
  • 勾引しかどわかしkidnapper
  • 勾引状こういんじょうsummons, warrant of arrest
  • 勾引すかどわすto kidnap
  • 急勾配きゅうこうばいsteep slope

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