Definition
惊雷 literally means 'startling thunder' — a sudden, loud clap of thunder that surprises or shocks. In modern Chinese, it's often used metaphorically to describe a shocking event, a sudden revelation, or a dramatic turn of events, especially in news headlines or literary contexts. You'll also encounter it in idioms and poetic expressions where it emphasizes the force and unexpectedness of something.
n.
a suddenstartling clap of thunder(figurative) a shocking or earth-shattering event
Examples
- 惊雷。Yì shēng jīng léi dǎpò le yèwǎn de níngjìng.A sudden clap of thunder broke the night's silence.
- 惊雷，。Zhège xiāoxi rútóng yí dào jīng léi, ràng suǒyǒu rén dōu zhènjīng le.This news was like a thunderbolt, shocking everyone.
- 惊雷，。Tā de yì fān huà yóurú píngdì jīng léi, lìng rén shēnsī.His words were like a thunderclap out of a clear sky, making people think deeply.
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