稲妻

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 稲妻 is read as いなずま and is a noun for a flash or streak of lightning visible in the sky.
• Basic usage: A lightning streak appears in 稲妻が走る, while resemblance appears in 稲妻のような光.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Light and sound
  • 稲妻 mainly denotes the visible flash of lightning, not the sound of thunder.
• Difference from 雷
  • 雷 broadly refers to thunder and lightning as a phenomenon, while 稲妻 focuses on the visible streak of light.