雷公 (Léi Gōng) — Thunder God (deity in Chinese mythology)

Definition

The mythological deity of thunder, often paired with 电母 (Lightning Goddess). Used for cultural reference, not daily conversation.

noun

Thunder God (deity in Chinese mythology)

Measure word · 位

，雷公。
Zài zhōng guó shén huà zhōng, Léi Gōng shì zhǎng guǎn léi diàn de shén.
In Chinese mythology, the Thunder God is the deity in charge of thunder and lightning.
，雷公。
Mín jiān chuán shuō lǐ, Léi Gōng hé diàn mǔ cháng cháng yì qǐ chū xiàn.
In folk legends, the Thunder God and the Lightning Goddess often appear together.
雷公。
Yǒu xiē miào lǐ gòng fèng zhe Léi Gōng de diāo xiàng.
Some temples enshrine statues of the Thunder God.

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.

公gōngmale figure

Thunder 雷 and a male figure 公 combine to name the thunder god.

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

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.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

One theory sees 公 as a picture of a wide-mouthed, round-bottomed jar.

Appears in