勾 means “bend, detain”

こう · kou

Also: be bent, slope, capture

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

かぎ, まがる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

コウ, ク

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 4 strokes

The story

A wrap (勹) curled around a hook (厶): 勾 bends. 勾配 is a slope, steep on mountain roads, 勾玉 are the curved jewels of ancient Japan, one of them among the imperial regalia, and 勾留 is holding a suspect in custody.

Used in 勾留 (kouryuu, detention), 勾配 (koubai, slope/gradient), and 勾玉 (magatama, curved jewel)

More from Prisons & Penalties

• 逮 arrest
• 刑 penalty
• 罰 punishment
• 懲 punish
• 拘 detain
• 獄 prison
• 偵 spy
• 拷 torture
• 囚 prisoner
• 錮 confinement

Learn 勾 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.