礁石

• Pinyin: jiāo shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 礁 = 石 (stone) + 焦 (phonetic) — reef; 石 = rock, stone

Meaning

Reef; reef rock. Rocks or rocky formations in the sea, often near the surface.

Refers to rocky formations in bodies of water that can pose hazards to navigation. Also used metaphorically to describe obstacles or dangers in life that one must navigate around. Common in coastal and maritime contexts.

Examples

1. 船长小心地绕过礁石，避免触礁。 The captain carefully navigated around the reef to avoid running aground.
2. 退潮后，海边的礁石上爬满了小螃蟹。 After the tide went out, the reef rocks along the shore were covered with small crabs.
3. 人生的旅途中总会遇到各种礁石，关键是如何绕过它们。 On life's journey, you'll always encounter various reefs — the key is how to navigate around them.

Usage Guide

Context: maritime, nature, metaphorical

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这片海域礁石很多，航行要小心。(This area has many reefs, so navigate carefully.)
• 孩子们在礁石上捡贝壳。(The children are picking up shells on the reef rocks.)

Don't Say

• 用'礁石'描述内陆的岩石 (Don't use 礁石 for rocks on land — it specifically means rocks in or near water; use 岩石 for land rocks)

Origin & History

Composed of 礁 (reef) + 石 (stone; rock). Both characters relate to rocky formations.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal