海湾
hǎi wān · HSK 6
gulf
🌊🏖️ 海 sea + 湾 bend = a bend in the sea, a bay
The character 湾 contains 弯 (bend/curve). A bay is literally where the coastline curves inward, creating a sheltered pocket of sea. So 海湾 is the sea's bend — a gulf or bay.
海 — water radical 氵 + 每 (phonetic)
海 is a phono-semantic compound. The 氵 (water) radical signals the meaning—a vast body of water—while 每 supplies the sound. Originally referring to the sea or ocean, it later extended figuratively to mean 'vast' or 'a great quantity,' as in 人海 (a sea of people).