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礁 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
礁jiāojetty, reefn, 17 strokes, radical 石, rank #18272, Hard
礁jiāoshoal rockunknown, 17 strokes, radical 石, rank #18272, Hard
jiāo(jiao1) T1
  1. 1jetty, reef
  2. 2shoal rock
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March 24, 2026

礁jiāo(jiao1)

The character '礁' (jiāo) refers to a submerged rock or reef that can be hazardous to navigation. It is commonly used in contexts related to marine environments, especially when discussing sailing, fishing, or coastal geography. Understanding this term is essential for those interested in marine biology or maritime travel.

Strokes17Radical石Frequency#18272DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In coastal communities in China, the concept of reefs is vital for fishing practices and environmental conservation, reflecting a deep relationship with the sea. The protection of reefs is often emphasized in discussions about marine biodiversity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant 'jiāo' (jetty) sticking out of the water, like a rock that could trip up a boat. The character '礁' has the radical for 'stone' (石) at the bottom, reminding you that it relates to rocks in the sea.

Meanings of 礁

jiāo(jiao1)
1jetty, reef
2shoal rock
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 礁

礁Simplified
17Strokes
石Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 礁

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Podcast: 礁

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AI Study Notes for 礁

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant 'jiāo' (jetty) sticking out of the water, like a rock that could trip up a boat. The character '礁' has the radical for 'stone' (石) at the bottom, reminding you that it relates to rocks in the sea.

Usage Notes

This term is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about marine issues. A common mistake is to confuse '礁' with '桥' (qiáo), which means 'bridge'; remember that '礁' specifically relates to underwater rocks. Be careful with pronunciation, as tonal errors can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While '礁' is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other marine-related vocabulary at higher levels. Students should focus on recognizing it in context and associating it with words like '海洋' (hǎiyáng - ocean) and '航行' (hángxíng - navigation).

Cultural Note

In coastal communities in China, the concept of reefs is vital for fishing practices and environmental conservation, reflecting a deep relationship with the sea. The protection of reefs is often emphasized in discussions about marine biodiversity.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '礁' (jiāo) with similar-sounding words. For example, some might mistakenly say '桥' (qiáo), meaning bridge, when referring to underwater structures. Always remember that '礁' is specifically about underwater rocks.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 礁

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Etymology of 礁

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 焦 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

rock

Semantic (meaning)石
+
Phonetic (sound)焦
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 礁?

Decomposition of 礁

IDS Structure⿰石焦
礁Full Character
=
石dan4
left
焦Jiao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 礁?

Write 礁

礁

Practice writing 礁 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 礁

礁 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他们触____时离海岸仅有500码。

When they hit the rocks, they were just 500 yards offshore.

Example Sentences for 礁 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他们触礁时离海岸仅有500码。

tā mén chù jiāo shí lí hǎi àn jǐn yǒu500 500。

When they hit the rocks, they were just 500 yards offshore.
2
老舵手掉转了船的航向,我们才避免了一次撞击礁石的危险.

lǎo duò shǒu diào zhuǎn le chuán de háng xiàng, , wǒ mén cái bì miǎn le yī cì zhuàng jī jiāo shí de wēi.

The old helmsman brought us about and we avoided a dangerous dash against the rocks.
3
市海洋与渔业局11日在东澳人工鱼礁区增殖放流36万尾鱼苗.

shì hǎi yáng yǔ yú yè jú11 11 rì zài dōng ào rén gōng yú jiāo qū zēng zhí fàng36 liú 36 wàn wěi.

Title : Zhuhai Ocean and Fisheries Bureau Releases 360,000 Fish Fries.
4
直到近来我们才发现,它们其实是众多独立的礁石, 大约有2900个独立的礁石系,组成了大堡礁.

zhí dào jìn lái wǒ mén cái fā xiàn, , tā mén qí shí shì zhòng duō dú lì de jiāo, shí , dà2900 yuē yǒu 2900 gè dú lì de, jiāo shí xì , zǔ chéng.

It's only been latterly that we've discovered that it's lots of individual reefs, around about 2,900 separate reef systems which make
5
这条木筏划近岩礁,然后迅速转向避开.

zhè tiáo mù fá huá jìn yán jiāo, , rán hòu xùn sù zhuǎn xiàng bì.

The raft came close to the rocks and then sheered away.
6
暗礁附近鱼很多.

àn jiāo fù jìn yú hěn duō.

Fish are abundant about the reefs.
7
船触礁了。

chuán chù jiāo le。

The ship struck a rock.
8
在狂风暴雨中,我们的船触礁了.

zài kuáng fēng bào yǔ zhōng, , wǒ mén de chuán chù jiāo.

In the storm our ship drove on the rocks.
9
几只强壮的胳膊不一会儿就把小船划到了印奇角礁石那儿.

jī zhī qiáng zhuàng de gē bó bù yī huì ér jiù bǎ xiǎo chuán huá dào le yìn qí jiǎo jiāo shí nà ér.

Strong arms soon rowed the boat to the Inchcape Rock.
10
他看到印奇角礁石上那浮动的浮标.

tā kàn dào yìn qí jiǎo jiāo shí shàng nà fú dòng de fú biāo.

He saw the buoy floating above the Inchcape Rock.

Cultural Notes for 礁

🏮Cultural insight

In coastal communities in China, the concept of reefs is vital for fishing practices and environmental conservation, reflecting a deep relationship with the sea. The protection of reefs is often emphasized in discussions about marine biodiversity.

Word Family of 礁

Words Containing This Character8
礁jiāoreef
礁石jiāoshíreef
暗礁submerged reef (rock)
珊瑚礁coral reef
触礁(fig.) to hit a snag觸礁
大堡礁Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia
环礁atoll環礁
堡礁barrier reef
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 礁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 礁

'礁' refers specifically to submerged rocks or reefs, while '岩' (yán) refers to any type of rock, typically above sea level.