Pronounced léi rén, this literally means "thunder person," and indicates shock, outrage or any extreme emotion. The word originally referred to the epic accoutrements of Thor, the Norse god of thunder, but gradually gained the extended connotation after Web users used it frequently on the Internet.
Presented by the image of someone being thunderstruck, léi rén has now become a popular alternative way to express "Oh my god," meaning outrageous or shocking or absurd.
Let's put it into context:
Phil: Hey Allen, did you watch the countdown party aired on Hunan Television?
Allen: Oh, that live show was so outrageous. Do you remember the part with "Love the Way You Lie" performed by Allen Su and Mao Amin? It was quite léi rén, and far worse than the original version.
Phil: That's what I was gonna tell you. It gave me the creeps!
Allen: Yeah, I think we should come up with better options for next New Year's Eve. Maybe a countdown concert?
Phil: Are you serious? I'd rather play video games...
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