雷
thunder, lightning bolt
Readings
On'yomi
- ライ
Kun'yomi
- かみなり
- いかずち
- いかづち
Meaning
雷 centers on the dramatic electrical discharge in a storm: thunder and lightning bolts. The two meanings are closely linked as the visible flash and the accompanying sound.
Most common words using 雷
20 of 110- 雷かみなりN4
lightning; thunder; thunderbolt
- 地雷じらい
land mine
- 魚雷ぎょらい
torpedo
- 落雷らくらい
lightning strike; lightning bolt
- 雷撃らいげき
lightning strike
- 雷雨らいう
thunderstorm; thundershower
- 雷電らいでん
thunder and lightning
- 雷神らいじん
god of thunder
- 雷鳴らいめい
thunder; thunderclap; crash of thunder
- 機雷きらい
(sea) mine
- 爆雷ばくらい
depth charge
- 水雷すいらい
torpedo
- 水雷みずがみなり
thunder accompanied by rain
- 避雷針ひらいしん
lightning rod
- 雷雲らいうん
thundercloud
- 迅雷じんらい
sudden peal of thunder; thunderclap
- 雷鳥らいちょう
ptarmigan (Lagopus muta, esp. the Japanese ptarmigan, Lagopus muta japonica); grouse
- 雷管らいかん
detonator; primer; percussion cap
- 雷光らいこう
lightning
- 雷霆らいてい
thunder
Study
Etymology
雷 combines 雨 (rain) with 田 (field), likely depicting rain falling on fields with the idea of thunder and lightning accompanying storms. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the rain association is clear.
Meaning mnemonic
Rain 雨 falls from the sky, and the field 田 below is struck by a sudden flash and boom: thunder and lightning.
Reading mnemonic
For ライ, imagine a loud thunderclap that sounds like a lion's roar: lion -> ライ, and the thunder shakes the field under the rain.