閃電 / 闪电
shǎndiàn
The English phrase lightning is translated into Chinese as 閃電 / 闪电 (shǎndiàn). If unsure, use 閃電 / 闪电. Wiktionary also lists 電光 / 电光 (diànguāng).
Meaning: discharge (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 閃電 / 闪电 | shǎndiàn |
| 電光 / 电光 | diànguāng |
閃電 / 闪电 is the standard term used in meteorological contexts to describe the electrical discharge.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 閃電 / 闪电 is composed of 闪 (shǎn), meaning 'to flash/glance' and 电 (diàn), meaning 'electricity'.
Which one should you use?
While 闪电 refers to the phenomenon of lightning itself, 電光 / 电光 specifically refers to the flash or the visual light produced by the discharge. Additionally, 雷電 / 雷电 is often used to refer to the combined phenomenon of thunder and lightning and 霹雳 specifically refers to the sound of thunder and lightning, emphasizing the thunderclap associated with lightning.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is shǎndiàn.
Did you know?
- The term 闪电战 (shǎndiànzhàn) is the direct translation for 'Blitzkrieg'. It uses the word for lightning to describe the speed and suddenness of the military tactic.
- The term 霹靂 / 霹雳 is used metaphorically in Chinese to describe a sudden, shocking, or transformative event, much like a 'bolt from the blue'.
- The word 閃電 / 闪电 uses the character 閃 / 闪, which also means 'to blink' or 'to glance'.
Examples in context
- 昨天晚上有很多闪电。There were many lightning flashes last night.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lightning” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
