湃 (pài): surging (of waves), only in 澎湃

Meanings

波涛澎湃，拍打着礁石。

Bōtāo péngpài, pāidǎ zhe jiāoshí.

The waves were surging, crashing against the reef.

听到国歌，他心潮澎湃。

Tīngdào guógē, tā xīncháo péngpài.

Hearing the national anthem, his heart surged with emotion.

usage

湃 is bound and appears only in 澎湃 (surging). It describes literal crashing waves and, figuratively, strong rising emotion (often 心潮澎湃).

radical

氵 shuǐ

water

The three-drop water radical, left-side form of 水. 湃 describes the surging of waves, so the water radical states the watery scene outright.

phonetic

拜 bài

to pay respects; to worship

Pure sound: standalone 拜 is bài, and 湃 keeps that reading. The bowing meaning does not carry over; it only fixes the pronunciation.

湃 pài