Let us now look at the secondary strokes. There are 6 of these strokes. They are divided into 3 groups, with 1, 2, and 3 strokes per group. We have already looked at the hook stroke. The hook stroke is the only stroke in its group.
The next group has 3 strokes in it. Each of the right arm strokes that we have seen, the vertical stroke, the horizontal stroke, and the downward right slanting stroke, maintains a straight elbow. Each of these has a corresponding stroke, where the elbow is bent at an angle of 45o. For each of these 3 strokes, the shoulder and the wrist line along the same line, either vertical, horizontal, or diagonally down toward the right. However, because of the angle of the elbow, the elbow does not lie in the same line as the shoulder and the wrist. Each of these 3 strokes typically appears with the hook stroke.
The first of the 3 curve strokes corresponds to the vertical stroke, and is called 彎鉤 (wāngōu) in Chinese.
The arm position for this stroke is similar to the arm position for the vertical stroke. The arm extends vertically downward alongside the body. However, instead of the elbow being straight, it is bent toward the right at a 45o angle. The wrist is in line with the forearm, the palm is open, and the fingers form a hook stroke.
As an example, this stroke appears in the dog radical, which is used on the left side of characters having to do with many animals, such as cat, 猫, and dog, 狗.