‘勾起’ is a transitive verb meaning 'to evoke' or 'to stir up'—typically memories, emotions, or associations that were previously dormant. The first character 勾 (gōu) literally means 'to hook' or 'to sketch,' suggesting the idea of pulling something forward; 起 (qǐ) means 'to rise' or 'to begin,' emphasizing activation or emergence. Together, they vividly convey the image of 'hooking and lifting up' an internal mental or emotional state from the background into conscious awareness.

This verb is commonly used in reflective, literary, or emotionally nuanced contexts—especially when describing sensory triggers (e.g., a scent, song, or photograph) that unexpectedly revive past feelings or recollections. It carries a gentle, often slightly nostalgic or poignant tone, and is rarely used for neutral or purely intellectual associations. It’s frequently followed by nouns like 回忆 (memories), 思念 (longing), 感动 (emotion), or 好奇心 (curiosity), and usually appears in written or semi-formal spoken Chinese—not casual speech.