漏气 (lòu qì) — to leak gas, air, or steam; to accidentally let… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally 'leak air/gas' (tires, balloons, pipes). Figuratively, 'spill the beans' — let a secret or embarrassing detail slip out by accident.

verb

to leak gasairor steamto accidentally let slip a secret or embarrassing information

Examples

漏气，。
Chē tāi lòu qì le, xū yào bǔ yí xià.
The tire has a leak and needs to be patched.
，。
Tā shuō huà bù xiǎo xīn lòu le qì, dà jiā dōu zhī dào le.
He accidentally let it slip while talking, and now everyone knows.
，。
Zhè ge qì qiú lòu guò yí cì qì, méi fǎ zài yòng le.
This balloon has had a leak once; it can't be used anymore.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

漏 'leak' and 气 'air' describe air escaping, or a secret slipping out.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

水水shuǐwater
屚屚lòuto leak

漏 combines 水 (water) and 屚 (to leak), showing water leaking.

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

气米氣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

气

气qì氣qì

Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in

Communication & Speech Technology & Engineering

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