Definition
晴天霹雳 is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'a bolt from the blue'. Literally 'a thunderbolt in clear skies', it describes a sudden, shocking event — almost always bad news — that strikes without warning. Use it when someone receives devastating or unexpected news that seems to come out of nowhere.
idiom
a bolt from the bluea suddenshocking turn of events (usually negative)
Examples
- 晴天霹雳。Zhège xiāoxi duì tā lái shuō zhēn shì qíng tiān pī lì.This news was really a bolt from the blue for him.
- 晴天霹雳。Gōngsī dǎobì de xiāoxi xiàng qíng tiān pī lì yíyàng ràng dàjiā wúfǎ jiēshòu.The news of the company's bankruptcy hit everyone like a bolt from the blue — they couldn't accept it.
- ，晴天霹雳。Tā tūrán tíchū líhūn, duì zhàngfu lái shuō wú yì yú qíng tiān pī lì.Her sudden request for divorce was no less than a bolt from the blue to her husband.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.