pik1霹
Jyutpingpik1
Yalepīk
Definition
A clap of thunder or crashing thunder.
colloquialweather
How it's used
Used primarily in the compound 霹靂 to describe the sudden, sharp sound of a thunderclap. It conveys a sense of intensity and suddenness, often used when the sound is startling or particularly violent. While it appears in some idioms, it is rarely used as a standalone verb in daily speech.
Examples
That clap of thunder just now was so loud.
Have you heard the thunder crashing outside yet?
Related words
Common phrases
sound of a thunderclap
crashing or crackling sound
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 閃電 which refers to the visual flash of lightning, whereas 霹靂 focuses specifically on the auditory impact of the thunder.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
