泄露 (xiè lòu) — to leak (information); to divulge | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

泄露 specifically means leaking information or secrets — the abstract sense. The character 泄 (or its spelled-out form 泄漏) by contrast can also mean physical leaking of liquid or gas.

verb

to leak (information)to divulge

Easily confused

泄漏xiè lòusound-aliketo leak (liquid or gas)

Examples

泄露。
Zhè jiā gōng sī de shāng yè jī mì bèi xiè lòu le.
This company's trade secrets were leaked.
泄露。
Bú yào qīng yì xiè lòu gè rén yǐn sī.
Don't easily disclose personal privacy.
泄露。
Tā zài wǎng shàng xiè lòu le qián nǚ yǒu de sī rén zhào piàn.
He leaked his ex-girlfriend's private photos online.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

露lùreveal

泄 and 露 both describe letting something come out.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 洩; 泄 is its simplified writing.

氵曳洩

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

曳

曳yè洩xiè

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 洩, 氵 marks the water-related meaning, while 曳 gives the sound; the simplified 泄 is a later abbreviation.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

雨路露

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

路

路lù露lù

Same sound today

露 pairs 雨, a rain-related meaning part, with 路, a sound part.

Appears in

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