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March 24, 2026
湃pài(pai4)
The character 湃 (pài) conveys the idea of turbulence or surging, often associated with the powerful and chaotic motion of water, such as waves crashing against the shore. It is commonly used in poetic contexts to describe the force and sound of water, evoking strong imagery of nature's might.
Strokes12Radical氵Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, water and its powerful forms, like waves or floods, are often symbolic of both destruction and renewal, which is reflected in the use of 湃 in literature to capture the duality of nature's force.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant wave surging towards you at the beach, making a loud 'pài' sound as it crashes. The character's water radical (氵) hints at its connection to water, while the second part suggests movement and energy, helping you associate it with turbulent waves.
Meanings of 湃
pài(pai4)
1turbulent, surging; the sound of waves crashing
2sound of waves
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 湃
湃Simplified
12Strokes
氵Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 湃
Podcast: 湃
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AI Study Notes for 湃
Quick Contrast
波 (bō) - use 湃 (pài) for turbulent or chaotic water movement, while 波 (bō) refers to gentle or regular waves.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant wave surging towards you at the beach, making a loud 'pài' sound as it crashes. The character's water radical (氵) hints at its connection to water, while the second part suggests movement and energy, helping you associate it with turbulent waves.
Usage Notes
In informal contexts, 湃 may be used to describe loud sounds or chaotic situations. It is important to use the correct tone, as mispronunciation can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words. Common collocations include 湃声 (sound of waves) and 湃浪 (surging waves).
HSK Study Tips
Though 湃 is not specifically included in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK 4 vocabulary related to nature and sound. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in literary texts or poetry to see how it describes powerful natural phenomena.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, water and its powerful forms, like waves or floods, are often symbolic of both destruction and renewal, which is reflected in the use of 湃 in literature to capture the duality of nature's force.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 湃 with similar characters like 排 (pái), which means 'to arrange'. A common mistake is to say '排浪' instead of '湃浪' when referring to surging waves.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 湃
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Grammar Patterns of 湃
湃 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 3
Complete the Sentence
雷德福有时会任由自己热情澎____。
Radford some-times allows his enthusiasm to run away with him.
Example Sentences for 湃 (3)
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1
雷德福有时会任由自己热情澎湃。
léi dé fú yǒu shí huì rèn yóu zì jǐ rè qíng péng pài。
Radford some-times allows his enthusiasm to run away with him.
2
见到他进入房间会让她心中欲望澎湃。
jiàn dào tā jìn rù fáng jiān huì ràng tā xīn zhōng yù wàng péng pài。
The sight of him entering a room could flood her with desire.
The seas grew turbulent, tossing the small boat like a cork.
Cultural Notes for 湃
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, water and its powerful forms, like waves or floods, are often symbolic of both destruction and renewal, which is reflected in the use of 湃 in literature to capture the duality of nature's force.
Word Family of 湃
Words Containing This Character3
澎湃to surge
心潮澎湃to be overwhelmed by emotions
湃pàisound of waves
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 澎湃 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 湃
湃 is best used in poetic or descriptive contexts when talking about water, waves, or turbulent situations.
No, it is more often found in literature or when describing nature rather than in daily speech.
Make sure to use the fourth tone, pronounced as 'pài', emphasizing the falling tone.
