水雷

shuǐléi
noun #32,685

Measure Word

Meanings

  1. 1 naval mine
  2. 2 sea mine
  3. 3 underwater mine

Examples

HSK 7-9
Dífāng zài gǎngkǒu bùzhì le shuǐléi.
The enemy planted naval mines at the harbor.
HSK 7-9
扫雷舰负责清除水雷
Sǎoléijiàn fùzé qīngchú shuǐléi.
Minesweepers are responsible for clearing naval mines.

Tips

memory
(water) + (thunder; later 'mine/explosive') = 'water-mine.' The same character builds 地雷 (land mine), 鱼雷 (torpedo, 'fish-mine'), and 雷管 (detonator).
usage
Naval mines come in two families in Chinese terminology: 触发水雷 (touch-triggered) and 触发水雷 (non-contact, e.g. magnetic or acoustic) - terms you'll see in any military-history article.

Stroke Order

shuǐ
léi