勾引 (gōu yǐn) — to seduce; to entice (into doing something bad or immoral)

Definition

Strongly negative verb: to lure or seduce someone into doing something bad — sexual seduction, or tempting people into crime or deception. Unlike 吸引 (attract neutrally), 勾引 always carries moral blame.

verb
to seduceto entice (into doing something bad or immoral)

Examples

  • 勾引
    Tā lì yòng zhí quán gōu yǐn nǚ xià shǔ, bèi gōng sī kāi chú le.
    He used his position to seduce female subordinates and was fired by the company.
  • 勾引
    Zhè xiē piàn zi yòng gāo é huí bào gōu yǐn lǎo nián rén tóu zī.
    These swindlers entice elderly people to invest with promises of high returns.
  • 勾引
    Fǎ lǜ yán chéng gōu yǐn wèi chéng nián rén fàn zuì de xíng wéi.
    The law severely punishes acts of enticing minors to commit crimes.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

勾 (hook) and 引 (lead) together suggest luring someone in.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 勾 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • gōngbow
  • 丿丿piěindicatory stroke

引 is made from 弓, a bow, and 丿, a short slant stroke added at the place where the string is pulled, marking the action of drawing or pulling.

Open 引 →

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