léi

thunder

Depicts rain () and lightning () together.

Components
雨 iconic component

  Iconic component

  

rain

申 iconic component

  Iconic component

shēn

  

to extend

Depicts a lightning bolt. Modern form looks like unrelated .

Evolution

雷 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
雷 Bronze script Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze script

Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
雷 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
雷 Clerical script Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Clerical script

Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
雷 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

léi

thunder; mine (weapon); (Internet slang) terrifying; terrific

 

Léi

surname Lei

Most common words with 雷
Freq.
Word
Meaning

thunder

雷达

radar (loanword)

雷锋

Lei Feng (1940-1962), made into a model of altruism and dedication to the Party by propaganda from 1963 onwards

地雷

landmine

雷诺

Reynolds (name)

Component uses

Meaning component in 1 character (0 verified)

Sound component in 4 characters (0 verified)