Korean Dictionary
How to say "Thunder" in Korean
“Thunder” in Korean is 천둥 (pronounced "cheondung").
천둥
cheondung
Usage & Context
Refers to the loud sound produced during thunderstorms. Thunder accompanies lightning and can be frightening. Koreans count the seconds between lightning and thunder to estimate distance.
Example Sentence
천둥소리가 크네요.
The thunder is loud.
How to use 천둥 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Thunder” is 천둥, romanized as cheondung.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 천둥.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'chuhn-doong' — 'cheon' rhymes with 'John' but starts with 'ch,' and 'dung' sounds like 'doong' rhyming with 'kung' in kung-fu.
More Example Sentences
describing a surprise during a storm
갑자기 천둥이 쳐서 깜짝 놀랐어요.
I was startled because thunder suddenly struck.
pet owner chat
우리 강아지는 천둥 소리를 무서워해요.
Our dog is afraid of the sound of thunder.
explaining a basic science concept to a child
번개가 치고 나면 꼭 천둥 소리가 들려요.
After lightning strikes, you always hear thunder.
Cultural Context
천둥 often appears in Korean expressions alongside 번개 (lightning) — the fixed phrase 천둥번개 is used the way English speakers say 'thunder and lightning' as one breath. In older Korean folk belief, loud thunder was thought to be 용 (dragons) battling in the sky, and the god 뇌신 punishing wrongdoers. K-pop and K-drama writers love the dramatic weather metaphor: 'my heart dropped like thunder' (천둥처럼 심장이 내려앉았다) is a trope in emotional scenes. Summer monsoon season (장마) is when you'll hear 천둥 most often.
Editorial note
We review entries like 천둥 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
천둥이 치다
Thunder strikes / rolls
천둥 번개
Thunder and lightning
천둥소리에 놀라다
To be startled by thunder
Related Expressions
번개
beongae
lightning
폭풍
pokpung
storm
장마
jangma
monsoon / rainy season
우레
ure
thunder (literary synonym)
More Weather Words
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