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雳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
thunderclap, crashing thunderx, 12 strokes, radical 雨, Very Hard
clap of thunderunknown, 12 strokes, radical 雨, Very Hard
(li4) T4
  1. 1thunderclap, crashing thunder
  2. 2clap of thunder
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(靂)(li4)

The character 雳 (lì) refers to a thunderclap or the sound of crashing thunder. It is often used in literary contexts to evoke the power and intensity of a thunderstorm, capturing a moment of dramatic weather. Its usage can also symbolize suddenness and force in various contexts.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, thunderstorms are often associated with strong emotions and are depicted in literature as dramatic moments that reflect inner turmoil. The character 雳 captures that vivid imagery of nature's power, often used in classical poetry.

Memory Tip

Imagine a huge clap of thunder that makes you jump. The character 雳 looks like a storm cloud (雨) above a loud sound (音). Picture the clouds rumbling and then a sudden 'lì' sound that shocks you into action.

Meanings of 雳

(li4)
1thunderclap, crashing thunder
2clap of thunder
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 雳

Simplified
Traditional
12Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 雳

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 雳

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a huge clap of thunder that makes you jump. The character 雳 looks like a storm cloud (雨) above a loud sound (音). Picture the clouds rumbling and then a sudden 'lì' sound that shocks you into action.

Usage Notes

雳 is primarily used in literary and poetic contexts, so it may not be suitable for everyday conversation. Common mistakes include confusing it with the more common word for thunder (雷, léi), which is used in more general contexts. Remember that 雳 conveys a more intense and sudden sound.

HSK Study Tips

While 雳 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of literary texts. Students should focus on its usage in poetry and classical literature, connecting it to other weather-related words like 雷 (léi) for a broader vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, thunderstorms are often associated with strong emotions and are depicted in literature as dramatic moments that reflect inner turmoil. The character 雳 captures that vivid imagery of nature's power, often used in classical poetry.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 雳 with 雷 (léi) and use it incorrectly in casual conversation, saying things like '今天有雳' (jīntiān yǒu lì) instead of '今天有雷' (jīntiān yǒu léi) to indicate thunder.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 雳

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Etymology of 雳

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 雨 represents the meaning and 历 represents the sound. Simplified form of 靂.

Memory Hint

rain

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 雳?

Decomposition of 雳

IDS Structure⿱雨历
Full Character
=
yu3
top
li4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 雳?

Write 雳

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 雳

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, thunderstorms are often associated with strong emotions and are depicted in literature as dramatic moments that reflect inner turmoil. The character 雳 captures that vivid imagery of nature's power, often used in classical poetry.

Word Family of 雳

Words Containing This Character5
霹雳clap of thunder霹靂
霹雳舞to breakdance霹靂舞
晴天霹雳thunder from a clear sky (idiom); a bolt from the blue晴天霹靂
clap of thunder
青天霹雳thunder from a clear sky (idiom); a bolt from the blue青天霹靂
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 霹雳 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 雳

No, 雳 is mainly found in literary contexts and is not commonly used in daily speech.