触礁

觸礁

chùjiāo

verb #32,945

Meanings

1 (of a ship) to strike a reef; to run aground
2 to hit a snag; to run into trouble

Characters

to touch; strike

Examples

HSK 6

谈判几次触礁，但最终达成了协议。

Tánpàn jǐ cì chùjiāo, dàn zuìzhōng dáchéng le xiéyì.

The negotiations hit snags several times but eventually reached an agreement.

HSK 7-9

那艘船在浓雾中触礁沉没。

Nà sōu chuán zài nóngwù zhōng chùjiāo chénmò.

The ship struck a reef in the heavy fog and sank.

Tips

usage

触 ('to touch/hit') + 礁 ('reef'). The figurative sense - plans, talks, marriages 'hitting a reef' - is at least as common as the literal nautical meaning, and parallels English 'hit a snag'/'run aground'.

Stroke Order

触 chù

礁 jiāo