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Kotomora

雷

thunder, lightning bolt

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes13

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

Explore all words using 雷 →

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.