勾芡 gōuqiàn to thicken with starch Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 勾 gōu to thicken to thicken a sauce or soup with starch, meaning to thicken by mixing in a slurry芡 qiàn starch thickening (bound form) thick liquid made of starch and water, used in cooking to thicken sauces or soups