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露馅 (lòu xiàn) — to spill the beans, to let the cat out of the bag, to reveal a secret unintentionally

Definition

A colloquial verb meaning 'to let the cat out of the bag' — typically describes an unintended slip that exposes a lie or secret. The secret leaks out, not the person actively telling it.

verb
to spill the beans, to let the cat out of the bag, to reveal a secret unintentionally

Examples

  • ，露馅。
    Tā běn lái xiǎng sā huǎng, jié guǒ jǐ jù huà jiù lòu xiàn le.
    He originally wanted to lie, but after just a few sentences he gave himself away.
  • ，露馅。
    Zhè ge jì huà yì zhí bǎo mì, zuì hòu hái shì lòu xiàn le.
    The plan was kept secret all along, but in the end it came out.
  • ，。
    Tā shuō huà bù xiǎo xīn, yí xià zi jiù lù le xiàn.
    He wasn't careful with his words and immediately let the secret out.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

露lùreveal
馅xiànfilling

露 makes 馅 visible, like filling leaking out, so a secret becomes exposed.

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.

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 →

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 餡; 馅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
飠Written in full as食shífood
Sound part声符shēngfú
臽
臽xiàn餡xiàn
Same sound today

For 馅, the traditional form 餡 pairs 飠 (food) with 臽 as the sound part.

Open 馅 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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