JLPT N1Idioms

青天の霹靂

Readingへきれきhekireki

Meaning
予想もしない突然の出来事や衝撃
Explanation
「青天の霹靂(へきれき)」, from the image of thunder suddenly crashing in a clear blue sky, is a metaphor for an unexpected sudden event or shock. It is used for surprising situations, as in 「青天の霹靂の知らせ」. c3 「気持ちの良い天候」(pleasant weather) is an error drawn only by the literal 「青天」(blue sky).
Original Japanese explanation

「青天の霹靂(へきれき)」は、晴れわたった青空に突然鳴り響く雷の意から、予期しない突然の出来事や衝撃のたとえ。「青天の霹靂の知らせ」のように驚きを伴う事態に使う。c3「気持ちの良い天候」は字面の「青天」だけに引かれた誤りである。

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