礁石 (jiāo shí): reef

After the tide went out in the evening, the reef by the sea emerged from the water. We carefully climbed onto it and saw a few small crabs hiding in the crevices.

At night, the lighthouse beam shines on the dark reef, guiding ships far away.

That area of sea has many hidden reefs. The captain gripped the wheel tightly and carefully steered around every reef, afraid the bottom of the boat would be damaged.

The painter sat on the beach, using his brush to depict the reef in the distance being pounded by the waves; its hard outline looked especially solemn in the setting sun.