落雷

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 落雷, read らくらい, and it combines 落, meaning fall, with 雷, meaning thunder or lightning.
• Basic usage: 落雷 means a lightning strike descending from a cloud to the ground or another object.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A strike that actually occurred and concern about a possible strike
  • Both examples use the form 落雷. The first is a nearby strike after which the light went out once; the second is a preventive cancellation prompted by the risk of lightning.
• A light going out once and a canceled outdoor event
  • 近くで落雷があり、電灯が一度消えた。 — There was a nearby lightning strike, and the light went out once.
  • 落雷の恐れがあるため屋外の行事を中止した。 — We canceled the outdoor event because of the risk of lightning.