pik1 lik1霹靂霹雳
Jyutpingpik1 lik1
Yalepīk līk
Definition
A sudden, loud thunderclap.
colloquialnatureweather
How it's used
While 霹靂 refers specifically to a sharp, sudden crack of thunder, it is most frequently encountered in the idiom 晴天霹靂. Outside of this set phrase, it is a somewhat dramatic or literary way to describe thunder compared to the everyday word 雷. Using it in casual conversation adds a sense of intensity or suddenness that normal thunder might not convey.
Measure word
sing1聲sīngExamples
Suddenly there was a thunderclap, it scared all the kids.
Did you hear that thunderclap just now?
Related words
Common phrases
a bolt from the blue
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe the rumbling sound of distant thunder, as it specifically denotes a sharp, explosive sound. It is not a general term for all types of thunder.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
