noun
Personified or respectful term for thunder, often used when speaking to children or in a folkloric context. The honorific さま adds a sense of awe or familiarity.
子どもに「雷様が怒ってるよ」と言った。
I told the child, 'The thunder god is angry.'
昔話では、雷様が雲の上で太鼓を叩いている。
In old tales, the thunder god beats a drum above the clouds.
Plain word for thunder or lightning; 雷様 is the personified or honorific form.
Compound of 雷 (かみなり, thunder) and honorific suffix 様 (さま).