1. Kanji Breakdown: 雷
This kanji represents a powerful and dramatic natural phenomenon.
Meaning: Thunder; lightning.
Reading:
Onyomi (Sino-Japanese reading): ライ (rai)
Kunyomi (Native Japanese reading): かみなり (kaminari)
The kanji is a compound ideograph (会意文字). It consists of two parts:
Top (雨): This means "rain," representing the weather phenomenon associated with storms.
Bottom (田): This means "rice field," but in this context, it's a simplification of an ancient character depicting rolling wheels or spinning patterns, representing the rumbling sound of thunder.
Thus, the character vividly depicts "the rumbling (田) in the rain (雨)," which is the sound of thunder.
2. Stroke Order and Writing
Learning the correct stroke order is crucial for balanced and beautiful kanji. "雷" has 13 strokes.
Here is the stroke order diagram and explanation:
Total Strokes: 13
Start with the top radical "雨" (rain radical):
Then, write the bottom part "田":
Key Writing Tips:
Write from top to bottom.
The top "雨" radical is wider. Ensure the four inner dots are balanced.
The bottom "田" should be centered and slightly narrower than the top.
The overall character should feel stable and grounded, much like the heavy feeling before a thunderstorm.
3. Vocabulary and Example Sentences
Here are some common words using "雷" and how to use them in sentences.
Vocabulary
雷 (かみなり, kaminari)
Meaning: Thunder; lightning (In Japanese, this one word often encompasses both the sound and the flash).
Example: 雷が鳴っている。外に出るのは危険だ。
Romaji: Kaminari ga natte iru. Soto ni deru no wa kiken da.
English: Thunder is rumbling. It's dangerous to go outside.
雷雨 (らいう, raiu)
Meaning: Thunderstorm.
Example: 激しい雷雨のため、試合は中止になった。
Romaji: Hageshii raiu no tame, shiai wa chūshi ni natta.
English: The game was canceled due to a severe thunderstorm.
落雷 (らくらい, rakurai)
Meaning: Lightning strike (a bolt of lightning hitting something).
Example: 昨日の落雷で停電が起きた。
Romaji: Kinō no rakurai de teiden ga okita.
English: A power outage occurred due to a lightning strike yesterday.
雷神 (らいじん, raijin)
Meaning: The God of Thunder (a deity in Japanese mythology).
Example: 雷神は太鼓を叩いて雷を鳴らすと言われている。
Romaji: Raijin wa taiko o tataite kaminari o narasu to iwarete iru.
English: It is said that the God of Thunder beats a drum to create thunder.
雷魚 (らいぎょ, raigyo)
Meaning: Snakehead fish (a type of fish).
Example: この湖には大きな雷魚がいる。
Romaji: Kono mizuumi ni wa ōkina raigyo ga iru.
English: There are large snakehead fish in this lake.
Summary
Kanji: 雷
Core Meaning: Thunder, Lightning.
Readings: On'yomi ライ (rai), Kun'yomi かみなり (kaminari)
Stroke Order: 13 strokes. Remember it's composed of 雨 (top - rain) and 田 (bottom - representing rumbling). Practice writing it step-by-step to master its powerful form.
This kanji is essential for describing weather, especially storms. By mastering its stroke order and vocabulary, you will be able to correctly write and use this dynamic character.