Meaning
泄 means to let something flow out or escape, whether liquid, gas, information, or emotion. It carries the sense of something being released that should perhaps be contained. The traditional form 洩 uses the water radical, emphasizing the original meaning of water leaking out.
Usage
泄 is commonly used in formal and written contexts, especially in compounds. It appears frequently in expressions about leaking secrets (泄密), venting emotions (发泄), or physical discharge. Native speakers rarely use the single character alone in casual conversation, preferring compound words.
Examples
- 01他不小心泄露了公司的机密信息。.He accidentally leaked the company's confidential information.
- 02运动是发泄压力的好方法。.Exercise is a good way to vent stress.
Common collocations
- 泄密to leak secrets
- 泄气to be discouraged, to lose heart
- 泄愤to vent one's anger
- 泄洪to discharge floodwater
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional character 洩 combines the water radical 氵(water) with 世 (generation/world), suggesting water flowing out into the world. The simplified form 泄 uses 曳 (to drag), still conveying the sense of something being pulled or flowing out.