雷

• Reading: かみなり
• Romaji: kaminari
• Kanji breakdown: 雷 (kaminari/rai) — thunder, lightning
• Pronunciation: /ka.mi.na.ɾi/

Meaning

Thunder; lightning. The sound and flash produced by an electrical storm.

A noun that covers both thunder (the sound) and lightning (the flash), unlike English which separates them. Commonly used in weather contexts and figurative expressions. 雷が落ちる means both 'lightning strikes' and figuratively 'to get severely scolded.' The word 雷雨 (raiu — thunderstorm) is common in weather forecasts.

Examples

1. 昨日の夜、雷がすごかった。 The thunder was intense last night.
2. 雷が怖くて眠れなかった。 I was so scared of the thunder that I couldn't sleep.
3. 急に雷が鳴り始めて驚いた。 Thunder suddenly started rumbling and it startled me.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, daily life, nature

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 雷 combines 雨 (rain) and 田 (field, here representing the rumbling sound). The native Japanese word かみなり literally means 'god's rumbling' (神鳴り), reflecting the ancient belief that thunder was the voice of gods.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal