触礁 (chù jiāo) — to strike a reef / hit a snag; (fig.) to run into trouble or encounter obstacles

Definition

A vivid verb meaning 'to strike a reef' (ships), extended figuratively to any plan or cooperation 'hitting a snag / running into trouble'. More concrete and image-driven than the abstract 遇到困难.

verb
to strike a reef / hit a snag(fig.) to run into trouble or encounter obstacles

Examples

  • 触礁。
    Nà sōu chuán zài fēng bào zhōng chù jiāo le.
    That ship struck a reef in the storm.
  • 触礁，。
    Zhè cì hé zuò chù jiāo le, shuāng fāng dōu xū yào chóng xīn kǎo lǜ.
    This cooperation hit a snag; both sides need to reconsider.
  • ，。
    Gōng sī chù le yí cì jiāo, dàn hěn kuài tiáo zhěng le cè lüè.
    The company ran into trouble once, but quickly adjusted its strategy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

触chùstrike
礁jiāoreef

触 gives the striking action and 礁 gives a reef, so the word means to strike a reef.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 觸; 触 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
角角jiǎo
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ觸chù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 觸 uses 角 for the meaning and 蜀 for the sound; the simplified 触 is a later shorthand.

Open 触 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shírock
Sound part声符shēngfú
焦
焦jiāo礁jiāo
Same sound today

礁 pairs 石, rock, with 焦, which gives the sound.

Open 礁 →

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