The word 勾引 is formed through the vivid metaphorical combination of its two component characters: 勾 (gōu), which means to hook, catch, or draw a line, evokes the image of using a hook to snare something; and 引 (yǐn), which means to lead, pull, or attract. Together, they create a compounded conceptual image of first reaching out with a lure (勾) and then deliberately pulling the target in (引), which naturally evolved to describe the act of seduction or temptation, where someone is artfully led astray.