掌声雷动 (zhǎng shēng léi dòng) — thunderous applause

Definition

A chengyu (idiom) meaning ‘thunderous applause’ — the literal image is applause (掌声) rolling like thunder (雷动). Used for big crowds responding with loud, unified clapping at performances, speeches, or events.

idiom
thunderous applause

Examples

  • ，掌声雷动。
    Yǎn chū jié shù shí, quán chǎng zhǎng shēng léi dòng.
    When the performance ended, the whole venue erupted in thunderous applause.
  • 掌声雷动。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng yíng dé le zhǎng shēng léi dòng.
    His speech won thunderous applause.
  • 掌声雷动，。
    Guān zhòng men zhǎng shēng léi dòng, jiǔ jiǔ bú yuàn lí qù.
    The audience burst into thunderous applause and were reluctant to leave for a long time.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng掌zhǎng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

It combines 手, meaning hand, with 尚, which gives it a sound close to shàng.

Open 掌 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 聲; 声 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
耳耳ěrear
Sound part声符shēngfú
殸
殸qìng聲shēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 聲 pairs 耳 (ear) with 殸 as a sound part; the simplified 声 is a shorthand and does not show those original parts.

Open 声 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
雨雨yǔrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
畾
畾léi雷léi
Same sound today

The top 雨 (rain) points to the meaning, and the bottom 畾 gives the sound.

Open 雷 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

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