避雷针

避雷針

bìléizhēn

noun #32,047

Measure Word

一根避雷针 gēn

Meanings

1 lightning rod
2 target of public anger

Characters

thunder / lightning

Examples

HSK 4

高楼顶上装着避雷针。

Gāolóu dǐng shàng zhuāng zhe bìléizhēn.

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

HSK 4

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