雷池 (léi chí) — (noun) limit, boundary (used figuratively, especially in the idiom 不敢越雷池一步); (noun) Lake Leichi in Anhui (historical)

Definition

A literary word for 'limit / boundary,' almost always used in the idiom 不敢越雷池一步 ('not dare to overstep the line'). The literal sense of the historical Lake Leichi in Anhui is obscure to learners.

noun
limitboundary (used figuratively, especially in the idiom 不敢越雷池一步)Lake Leichi in Anhui (historical)

Examples

  • ，雷池。
    Tā zuò shì hěn jǐn shèn, cóng lái bù gǎn yuè léi chí yí bù.
    He is very cautious in his work and never dares to overstep the limit.
  • ，雷池。
    Zài zhè ge háng yè lǐ, yǒu xiē léi chí shì bù néng pèng de.
    In this industry, there are some boundaries that cannot be touched.
  • ，雷池。
    Gōng sī zhì dìng le yán gé de zhì dù, shuí yě bù néng yuè léi chí.
    The company has established strict rules; no one may overstep the boundary.

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
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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě池chí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

池 pairs 氵 (water) with 也, which provides the sound.

Open 池 →

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