How to Write 湃 (pài) — Meaning “Surging or splashing”

Imagine water (氵) bowing down (拜) as a huge wave crashes, creating a surging splash. The right side 拜 looks like a person bowing, so picture the wave bowing to the shore. This visual helps link the shape to the meaning of surging water.

The water radical on the left must be written slender, with three dots in a slightly curved line. On the right, 拜 has many horizontal strokes — keep them parallel and evenly spaced, especially the three horizontal lines in the top part. A common mistake is making the right side too wide, which throws off the balance.

While 湃 (pài) means surging, 流 (liú) means flowing and has a different right side (㐬, like a winding stream). 浙 (zhè) is used for Zhejiang province and has the right side 折 (break). Visually, 湃's right part 拜 has a distinct hand-like shape, unlike the other two.

湃 almost always appears in the compound 澎湃 (pēng pài), meaning 'surging' or 'billowing,' used for waves or strong emotions. It is a literary word, often seen in phrases like 汹涌澎湃 (turbulent waves) or 心潮澎湃 (heart surging with emotion). You will rarely find it alone in everyday conversation.

Common words containing 湃 include: 澎湃 (pēng pài) — surging or billowing.