搁浅

擱淺

gēqiǎn

verb HSK 7 #18,600

Meanings

1 to run aground; to be stranded
2 to stall; to reach a deadlock (figurative)

Characters

to rest on; to be placed

Literally 'stuck on shallow (water)' — a ship that can't move because the water is too shallow.

Examples

那艘船在浅滩上搁浅了。

Nà sōu chuán zài qiǎntān shàng gēqiǎn le.

That ship ran aground on the shoal.

谈判搁浅了，双方无法达成一致。

Tánpàn gēqiǎn le, shuāngfāng wúfǎ dáchéng yízhì.

The negotiations have stalled — both sides can't reach an agreement.

Tips

usage

搁浅 is widely used figuratively for projects, plans, and negotiations that have stalled. 计划搁浅 (jìhuà gēqiǎn) means a plan has hit a dead end. It's vivid because everyone can picture a ship stuck in shallow water, unable to move forward.

Stroke Order

搁 gē

浅 qiǎn