Meaning
打雷 literally means 'to strike thunder' and describes the natural phenomenon of thunder occurring during a storm. It's a verb-object compound where 打 (to strike/hit) combines with 雷 (thunder). The expression is used to describe the weather condition when thunder is heard.
Usage
Native speakers commonly use 打雷 in weather descriptions, often paired with 闪电 (lightning). It's typically used in impersonal constructions like '外面打雷了' (it's thundering outside). The word is neutral in register and appropriate for both spoken and written contexts. Often appears together with 下雨 (to rain) when describing stormy weather.
Examples
- 01外面打雷了，我们最好别出去。, .It's thundering outside, we'd better not go out.
- 02昨天晚上又打雷又下雨，吵得我睡不着觉。, .Last night there was thunder and rain, so noisy that I couldn't sleep.
Characters
Common collocations
- 打雷下雨thunder and rain
- 又打雷又闪电both thunder and lightning
- 开始打雷start to thunder
Origin
The compound uses 打 in its sense of 'to produce/make' (as in 打电话 'make a phone call'), combined with 雷 (thunder). This construction treats thunder as something nature 'produces' or 'strikes out.'