hong3 saa1炕沙
Jyutpinghong3 saa1
Yalehong sā
Definition
To run aground; to be stranded in shallow water, especially of a boat.
colloquialtransportnature
How it's used
Describes a vessel becoming stuck on a sandbank or shallow area due to low water levels. It is specifically used for watercraft and carries a sense of being immobilized by the environment rather than a mechanical failure. While technically accurate for maritime contexts, it is rarely used in casual conversation unless one is near the coast or involved in boating.
Examples
The boat got stranded while sailing, what should we do?
The tide went out, and the boat immediately ran aground.
Related words
Common phrases
a boat running aground
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general terms for getting stuck like 塞車, which applies to road traffic. It is strictly for boats or ships hitting the seabed or sand.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).



