败露 (bài lù) — to be exposed (of a secret, plot, or conspiracy)

Definition

Used when a hidden wrongdoing (scandal, plot, fraud) is uncovered and comes to light. Implies the secret was forced into the open, not voluntarily revealed.

verb

to be exposed (of a secret, plot, or conspiracy)

Examples

败露。
Tā men de yīn móu zhōng yú bài lù le.
Their conspiracy was finally exposed.
败露，。
Zhè ge chǒu wén hěn kuài bài lù, yǐn qǐ le gōng zhòng de fèn nù.
This scandal was quickly exposed, arousing public anger.
败露，。
Piàn jú bài lù hòu, tā bù dé bù chéng rèn cuò wù.
After the fraud was exposed, he had to admit his mistake.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

败bàifail

露lùexpose

The ideas of 败 as failing and 露 as being exposed combine to mean a secret is revealed.

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 敗; 败 is its simplified writing.

貝攵敗

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攵Written in full as攴pūstrike

Sound part声符shēngfú

貝

貝bèi敗bài

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

The traditional form 敗 has 貝 as the sound component and 攴 (written 攵) meaning strike. The simplified 败 is a later abbreviation, so its parts are not the original components.

Open 败 →

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

雨雨yǔ

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.

Open 露 →

Appears in