About

The Chinese word **雷鸣** (léi míng) is a metaphorical compound formed by combining the character **雷** (léi), meaning "thunder," with **鸣** (míng), meaning "to sound" or "to cry out." It functions as a **subject-predicate structure** where "thunder" is the subject and "sounds" is the action, literally translating to "thunder roars" or "thunder sounds." This literal image is then used figuratively to describe any loud, rumbling noise or an overwhelming reaction (such as "thunderous applause"), making it a vivid example of how Chinese creates expressive vocabulary by pairing concrete natural phenomena with actions to convey abstract qualities.

Word Definition - 雷鸣

léi míng thunder rolls

Individual Character Details