避雷针

避雷針

bìléizhēn

noun #32,047

Measure Word

一根避雷针 gēn

Meanings

1 lightning rod
2 (figurative) lightning rod / target of public anger

Characters

thunder / lightning

Examples

高楼顶上装着避雷针。

Gāolóu dǐng shàng zhuāngzhe bìléizhēn.

There's a lightning rod installed on top of the tall building.

他成了公司的避雷针，承担了所有批评。

Tā chéng le gōngsī de bìléizhēn, chéngdān le suǒyǒu pīpíng.

He became the company's lightning rod, taking all the criticism.

Tips

memory

Literally 'avoid-thunder-needle': 避 ('avoid') + 雷 ('thunder/lightning') + 针 ('needle'). Works the same way in metaphor as English — someone who absorbs all the criticism so others don't have to. Benjamin Franklin's 1752 invention is called 富兰克林避雷针 in Chinese physics textbooks.

Stroke Order

避 bì

雷 léi

针 zhēn