惊雷 (jīng léi) — a sudden, startling clap of thunder; (figurativ…

Definition

Literary noun for a sudden, startling thunderclap, often used figuratively for a shocking event. Concrete everyday thunder is just 雷.

noun

a suddenstartling clap of thunder(figurative) a shocking or earth-shattering event

惊雷。
Yī shēng jīng léi dǎ pò le yè wǎn de níng jìng.
A sudden clap of thunder broke the night's silence.
惊雷，。
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.
惊雷，。
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.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

惊jīngstartling

惊 suggests a startling shock, and 雷 is thunder; together they mean a sudden, startling clap of thunder.

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.

忄京惊

Meaning part形符xíngfú

忄Written in full as心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

京

Same sound today

惊 is made from 忄 (heart) and 京, which gives the sound.

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.