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March 24, 2026
雷léi(Lei2)
雷 (léi) primarily means 'thunder' and is commonly used in meteorological contexts or to describe loud noises. It can also refer to the surname 'Lei' and is metaphorically used in internet slang to denote something that is 'terrifying' or 'terrific', often in a dramatic or exaggerated manner.
Strokes13Radical雨Frequency#1047DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture,雷 (thunder) is often associated with powerful natural forces and is featured in various myths and legends, symbolizing strength and unpredictability. Additionally, thunderstorms are culturally significant, often linked to agricultural cycles.
Memory tip
Imagine a loud '雷' (léi) crash of thunder that shakes the ground. The character has a radical that resembles a lightning bolt, which you can visualize striking down, linking the sound to the image of thunder. Remember: '雷' sounds like 'lay', and when thunder strikes, it can make you lay flat in surprise!
Meanings of 雷
léi(Lei2)
1thunder
2mine (weapon)
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About 雷
雷Simplified
13Strokes
雨Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1047Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 雷
Podcast: 雷
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AI study notes for 雷
Quick Contrast
霹雳 (pīlì) - use 雷 (léi) for general thunder, while 霹雳 (pīlì) specifically refers to a sudden, sharp thunderclap.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing '雷' as it is third tone (léi). This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful not to confuse it with other similar sounding words. Common collocations include '雷声' (thunder sound) and '雷电' (thunder and lightning).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, '雷' connects with other weather-related vocabulary and can help learners expand their knowledge of natural phenomena. Students should focus on using it in context, especially in describing weather conditions or metaphorical expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '雷' with '来' (lái), which means 'to come'. For example, a common mistake is saying '雷来' instead of '来雷', which would incorrectly imply 'thunder comes' instead of the correct usage focusing on the phenomenon itself.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 雷
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Knowing 雷 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
雷 (léi) primarily means 'thunder' and is commonly used in meteorological contexts or to describe loud noises. It can also refer to the surname 'Lei' and is metaphorically used in internet slang to denote something that is 'terrifying' or 'terrific', often in a dramatic or exaggerated manner.
When to use 雷
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing '雷' as it is third tone (léi). This word is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful not to confuse it with other similar sounding words. Common collocations include '雷声' (thunder sound) and '雷电' (thunder and lightning).
雷 or something close to it
霹雳 (pīlì) - use 雷 (léi) for general thunder, while 霹雳 (pīlì) specifically refers to a sudden, sharp thunderclap.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '雷' with '来' (lái), which means 'to come'. For example, a common mistake is saying '雷来' instead of '来雷', which would incorrectly imply 'thunder comes' instead of the correct usage focusing on the phenomenon itself.
Write 雷
雷
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Grammar patterns of 雷
雷 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
It could engage the enemy beyond the range of hostile torpedoes.
10
格雷姆·内史密斯创作了这张专辑十首歌中的两首。
gé léi mǔ· nèi Shǐ mì Sī chuàngzuò le zhè zhāng zhuānjí shí shǒu gē zhōng de liǎng shǒu。
Graeme Naysmith has produced two of the ten tracks on this album.
11
雷先生是我们公司的总经理，他非常有经验。
Léi xiānsheng shì wǒmen gōngsī de zǒngjīnglǐ, tā fēicháng yǒu jīngyàn.
Mr. Lei is the general manager of our company, and he is very experienced.
12
我和雷女士在一次商务会议上认识的，她是一个很优秀的律师。
Wǒ hé Léi nǚshì zài yīcì shāngwù huìyì shàng rènshi de, tā shì yīgè hěn yōuxiù de lǜshī.
I met Ms. Lei at a business conference; she is an excellent lawyer.
13
雷先生今天给我们介绍了一个重要的项目计划。
Léi xiānshēng jīntiān gěi wǒmen jièshào le yī gè zhòngyào de xiàngmù jìhuà.
Mr. Lei introduced us to an important project plan today.
14
小时候，我常常去雷叔叔家玩，他总是给我讲有趣的故事。
Xiǎoshíhòu, wǒ chángcháng qù Léi shūshu jiā wán, tā zǒng shì gěi wǒ jiǎng yǒuqù de gùshì.
When I was a child, I often went to Uncle Lei's house to play, and he always told me interesting stories.
15
雷小姐在艺术界颇有名气，她的作品曾在多个国际展览中获奖。
Léi xiǎojiě zài yìshù jiè pō yǒu míngqì, tā de zuòpǐn céng zài duō gè guójì zhǎnlǎn zhōng huòjiǎng.
Miss Lei is quite famous in the art world, and her works have won awards at many international exhibitions.
16
雷家的祖祖辈辈都在这个村子里生活，他们是这里最古老的家族之一。
Léi jiā de zǔzǔ bèibèi dōu zài zhège cūnzi lǐ shēnghuó, tāmen shì zhèlǐ zuì gǔlǎo de jiāzú zhī yī.
The Lei family has lived in this village for generations, and they are one of the oldest families here.
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Word Family of 雷
Compounds9
蕾lěibud
擂léito rub, to grind; to use a mortar and pestle
镭léiradium
檑léia log trap used to defend a city
礌léi
癗lěi
鐳léi
靐bìng
鱩léi
Words containing this character20
雷léithunder
雷达léidáradar (loanword)雷達
雷锋léifēngLei Feng (1940-1962), made into a model of altruism and dedication to the Party by propaganda from 1963 onwards雷鋒
地雷dìléilandmine
雷诺léinuòReynolds (name)雷諾
雷电léidiànthunder and lightning雷電
雷雨léiyǔthunderstorm
鱼雷yúléitorpedo魚雷
雷鸣léimíngthunder rolls雷鳴
格雷géléiGrey
手雷shǒuléigrenade
雷同léitóngidentical
雷霆léitíngsound of thunder
雷管léiguǎnfuse
迅雷xùnléithunderbolt
雷阵雨léizhènyǔthunder shower雷陣雨
雷击léijīthunderbolt雷擊
雷蒙德léiméngdéRaymond (name)
大发雷霆dàfāléitíngto be furious大發雷霆
雷克斯léikèsīRex (name)
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 雷
What does 蕾 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 雷
Common phrases that include 雷 are '雷声' (léishēng), meaning 'the sound of thunder,' and '雷电' (léidiàn), which means 'thunder and lightning.' These phrases are often used in weather-related discussions in Chinese.
Yes, 雷 (Léi) is a relatively common surname in China. It is often found in various regions and can be associated with many notable individuals in history and contemporary society.
雷 (léi) means 'thunder' in Chinese and can also refer to a surname. In modern contexts, it may be used in internet slang to describe something that is terrifying or terrific. The character appears in various expressions related to weather and sound.
雷 can be used in sentences to describe weather phenomena, such as '今天有雷雨' (Jīntiān yǒu léiyǔ), meaning 'There is a thunderstorm today.' It can also be used metaphorically, for example, '他的表现真雷人' (Tā de biǎoxiàn zhēn léirén), which translates to 'His performance is really terrific/terrifying.'
'雷' can be used in a sentence such as '我听到雷声' (Wǒ tīngdào léi shēng) meaning 'I hear thunder'.
Yes, in internet slang '雷' can mean something is 'terrifying' or 'terrific', often conveying a dramatic reaction.
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