Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

飛電 (ひでん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

飛ひ電でん

ひ

で

ん

Meanings

1

noun

flash of lightning

Literary or poetic term for a lightning flash; not the everyday word for lightning (雷).

夜よ空ぞらに飛ひ電でんが走はしった。
A flash of lightning streaked across the night sky.

2

noun

urgent telegram; express telegraph

Historical term for an urgent telegram or express telegraph message; now largely obsolete with modern communication.

戦せん時じ中ちゅう、飛ひ電でんで知しらせが届とどいた。
During the war, news arrived by urgent telegram.

Kanji

飛fly, skip (pages), scatter
電electricity

Similar words

雷かみなり
Standard word for lightning or thunder; 飛電 is a more literary, specific term for a lightning flash.
電でん報ぽう
General word for telegram; 飛電 specifically refers to an urgent or express telegram, now historical.

Etymology

Compound of 飛 (hi, 'flying') and 電 (den, 'electricity, lightning, telegram'), literally 'flying lightning/telegram'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji composition directly reflects the two senses.