雷雨

• Reading: らいう
• Romaji: raiu
• Kanji breakdown: 雷 (rai) — thunder, lightning; 雨 (u) — rain
• Pronunciation: /ɾa.i.ɯ/

Meaning

Thunderstorm; thundershower. A storm with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain.

A noun describing a rainstorm accompanied by thunder and lightning. Common in weather forecasts and daily conversation, especially during Japan's summer months (夏) when afternoon thunderstorms (夕立) are frequent. More specific than 嵐 (storm, general) — 雷雨 specifically involves thunder. Often heard in forecasts: 午後から雷雨の恐れがあります (there is a risk of thunderstorms from the afternoon).

Examples

1. 午後から雷雨になるらしいので傘を持っていこう。 Looks like there'll be thunderstorms this afternoon, so let's bring umbrellas.
2. 突然の雷雨で試合が中断された。 The match was suspended due to a sudden thunderstorm.
3. 夏は毎日のように雷雨が来る地域もある。 There are areas where thunderstorms come almost every day in summer.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, daily life, forecasts, seasons

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 雷 (rai, thunder/lightning) + 雨 (u, rain). Literally 'thunder rain' — a direct compound describing the phenomenon.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal