泄密
xiè mì · HSK 7
to leak secrets
💧🔒 泄密 = 泄 leak/divulge + 密 secret = to leak secrets
泄 means to leak or drain (it shares the water radical 氵), and 密 means secret or confidential. Together: secret-stuff draining out, i.e. to leak secrets.
泄 — water radical 氵 + 世 (generation/world)
A semantic-phonetic compound: 氵 gives the water meaning while 世 supplies the sound. The original sense was water leaking or flowing out, which extended figuratively to 'leak out' (secrets, air) and 'discharge' or 'vent' (emotions, frustration).
密 — 宀 roof + 必 (phonetic) + 山 mountain
Originally referring to a hidden, sheltered place in the mountains, 密 combines 宀 (roof/cover) over 必 (phonetic) with 山 (mountain) at the base. The meaning extended from 'secluded mountain hideaway' to 'dense, close, secret'. Today it commonly means dense, intimate, or secret.