bolt from the blue; sudden calamity; shocking news
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun phrase
bolt from the blue; sudden and completely unexpected calamity or shocking event
literaryAlways used to describe something extremely shocking and unforeseen, causing great mental impact. The source imagery is a thunderclap (霹雳) on a clear day (晴天).
Tā他
chū出
chē车
huò祸
de的
xiāo消
xi息
rú如
tóng同
qíng晴
tiān天
pī霹
lì雳
，
ràng让
quán全
jiā家
rén人
dōu都
jīng惊
dāi呆
le了
。
The news of his car accident was like a bolt from the blue, stunning the whole family.
Gōng公
sī司
tū突
rán然
dǎo倒
bì闭
，
duì对
yuán员
gōng工
men们
lái来
shuō说
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
qíng晴
tiān天
pī霹
lì雳
。
The company's sudden bankruptcy was a complete bolt from the blue for the employees.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Dé得
zhī知
zhì挚
yǒu友
bìng病
zhòng重
de的
xiāo消
xi息
，
tā他
gǎn感
jué觉
xiàng像
ái挨
le了
qíng晴
tiān天
pī霹
lì雳
。
Upon learning about his close friend's serious illness, he felt as if struck by a thunderbolt on a sunny day.