透风 (tòu fēng) — (v.o.) to ventilate, to let fresh air in; (v.o.) to drop a hint, to leak information
Definition
Verb-object compound with two meanings: literally 'let air pass through' (ventilate), and figuratively 'leak a hint of information'. Used in both everyday and journalistic contexts.
verb
(v.o.) to ventilateto let fresh air in(v.o.) to drop a hintto leak information
Examples
- 透风，。Zhè ge fáng jiān bú tài tòu fēng, gǎn jué hěn mēn.This room doesn't get much air; it feels stuffy.
- ，。Tā xiàng jì zhě tòu le diǎn fēng, shuō gōng sī yào cái yuán.He dropped a hint to the reporters that the company was going to lay off staff.
- ，透风。Tiān qì rè le, xū yào kāi chuāng tòu fēng.It's hot — I need to open the window and let some air in.
Appears in
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