雷 (léi) — thunder; mine (explosive device); (Taiwanese slang) spoiler (revealing plot details)

Definition

As a noun, 雷 means 'thunder' (for the weather event itself, use 打雷) or 'mine' (the explosive device — not 矿, which is a mineral mine). 爆雷 in Taiwan slang means to spoil a show.

noun
thundermine (explosive device)(Taiwanese slang) spoiler (revealing plot details)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Zuó tiān wǎn shàng de léi shēng tè bié dà.
    The thunder last night was especially loud.
  • 。
    Shì bīng men zhèng zài pái léi.
    The soldiers are clearing mines.
  • 雷，。
    Bié gěi wǒ bào léi, wǒ yào zì jǐ kàn.
    Don't spoil it for me, I want to watch it myself.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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.

Appears in
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