暗礁 (àn jiāo) — submerged reef; hidden obstacle (figurative)
Definition
Literally a reef hidden just below the waterline; figuratively a hidden obstacle or snag (in a plan, negotiation, or relationship) that suddenly trips you up. Most often used in the figurative sense at HSK 7.
noun
submerged reefhidden obstacle (figurative)
Measure word · 座
Examples
- 暗礁，。Zhè piàn hǎi yù yǒu hěn duō àn jiāo, háng xíng shí yào xiǎo xīn.There are many submerged reefs in this sea area; be careful when sailing.
- 暗礁，。Tán pàn zhōng yù dào le bù shǎo àn jiāo, shuāng fāng hěn nán dá chéng yí zhì.Many hidden obstacles were encountered during the negotiations, making it hard for both sides to reach an agreement.
- 暗礁。Zhè sōu chuán yīn wèi zhuàng shàng àn jiāo ér chén mò le.This ship sank because it hit a submerged reef.
Appears in
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