The word 搁浅 is formed by combining the character 搁, meaning "to place" or "to put", with 浅, meaning "shallow". Together, they create a compound where 搁 denotes the action of placing something, and 浅 specifies the condition of being in shallow water, resulting in the literal meaning of a vessel being placed into shallow water and becoming stuck, hence "to run aground" or "to be stranded".