verb HSK 5
xuān xiè
to give vent to · to vent · to release (emotions) · to let off steam

Meaning

宣泄 means to release or vent pent-up emotions, feelings, or pressure. It describes the act of expressing bottled-up emotional energy, whether anger, frustration, sadness, or stress. The word carries a sense of letting something flow out that has been building up inside.

Usage

Commonly used in psychological or emotional contexts when discussing how people release stress or negative feelings. Often appears with objects like 情绪 (emotions), 压力 (pressure), or 不满 (dissatisfaction). It's a relatively formal term used in written language, therapy contexts, or serious discussions about mental health.

Examples

  1. 01
    运动是宣泄压力的好方法。
    Yùn dòng shì xuān xiè de hǎo fāng .
    Exercise is a good way to release stress.
  2. 02
    他需要找个地方宣泄自己的情绪。
    yào zhǎo fang xuān xiè de qíng .
    He needs to find a place to vent his emotions.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 宣泄情绪
    xuān xiè qíng
    to vent emotions
  • 宣泄压力
    xuān xiè
    to release pressure/stress
  • 宣泄不满
    xuān xiè mǎn
    to vent dissatisfaction
  • 情绪宣泄
    qíng xuān xiè
    emotional release

Antonyms

Origin

The combination of 宣 (to proclaim/spread) and 泄 (to discharge/let out) creates the meaning of openly releasing or letting something flow out. The character 泄 originally referred to water flowing out, which metaphorically extends to emotions flowing out.

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