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靂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
靂lìthunderclap, crashing thunderx, 24 strokes, radical 雨, rank #62752, Very Hard
lì(li4) T4
  1. 1thunderclap, crashing thunder
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

靂lì(li4)

The character 靂 (lì) refers to a thunderclap or the sound of crashing thunder. It is often used in literary contexts to evoke a sense of dramatic weather or to symbolize suddenness and power, commonly appearing in poetry and classical texts.

Strokes24Radical雨Frequency#62752DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, thunder is often associated with powerful deities and is considered a sign of impending rain, which is crucial for agriculture. The sound of thunder is deeply embedded in traditional Chinese poetry and art.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant 'li' (pronounced like 'lee') with a lightning bolt crashing down, producing a loud thunderclap. The character 靂 looks like a roof (the top part) over the sound of thunder (the bottom part), reminding you of the sound echoing during a storm.

Meanings of 靂

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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 靂

靂Simplified
24Strokes
雨Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 靂

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Podcast: 靂

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 靂

Usage Notes

靂 is a more formal and literary term for thunder, so it may not be used in everyday conversation where simpler terms like 雷 (léi) are preferred. Be mindful of the tone; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other characters.

HSK Study Tips

Since 靂 is not included in HSK levels, it's beneficial to relate it to HSK 4 vocabulary, particularly words related to nature and weather. Focus on recognizing its literary usage and understanding the context in which it appears.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 靂 with 雷 (léi), which is the more common term for thunder. Remember that 靂 is more poetic and formal, whereas 雷 is used in everyday language.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 靂

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Etymology of 靂

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)雨
+
Phonetic (sound)歷
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 靂

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

  1. 1The meaning half雨 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half歷 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayrain
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 靂? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 靂?

Decomposition of 靂

IDS Structure⿱雨歷
靂Full Character
=
雨yu3
top
歷li4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 靂?

How to say thunderclap, crashing thunder in Chinese

“thunderclap, crashing thunder” in Chinese is靂lì

The character 靂 (lì) refers to a thunderclap or the sound of crashing thunder. It is often used in literary contexts to evoke a sense of dramatic weather or to symbolize suddenness and power, commonly appearing in poetry and classical texts.

When to use 靂

靂 is a more formal and literary term for thunder, so it may not be used in everyday conversation where simpler terms like 雷 (léi) are preferred. Be mindful of the tone; mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other characters.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 靂 with 雷 (léi), which is the more common term for thunder. Remember that 靂 is more poetic and formal, whereas 雷 is used in everyday language.

Write 靂

靂

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 靂

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
雳lìclap of thunder靂
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 靂

No, 靂 is primarily used in literary contexts and is less common in casual speech compared to 雷 (léi).

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