惊雷 (jīng léi) — a sudden, startling clap of thunder; (figurative) a shocking or earth-shattering event

Definition

Examples

• 一声惊雷打破了夜晚的宁静。
  Yī shēng jīng léi dǎ pò le yè wǎn de níng jìng.
  A sudden clap of thunder broke the night's silence.
• 这个消息如同一道惊雷，让所有人都震惊了。
  Zhè ge xiāo xi rú tóng yí dào jīng léi, ràng suǒ yǒu rén dōu zhèn jīng le.
  This news was like a thunderbolt, shocking everyone.
• 他的一番话犹如平地惊雷，令人深思。
  Tā de yì fān huà yóu rú píng dì jīng léi, lìng rén shēn sī.
  His words were like a thunderclap out of a clear sky, making people think deeply.