The Chinese word 勾搭 (gōuda) is a compound verb formed through the combination of two characters with related meanings: 勾 (gōu), which originally means "to hook" or "to entice", and 搭 (dā), which means "to connect", "to build", or "to strike up". When combined, their literal senses of "hooking and connecting" metaphorically extend to describe the act of establishing a covert, often illicit or flirtatious, connection with someone. The term thus conveys a process of initiating and fostering a secretive or morally questionable relationship, carrying a generally negative or colloquial connotation of scheming or improper seduction.