泄漏
xiè loù · HSK 7
to leak
💧 泄 (discharge) + 漏 (leak/drip) = leak out, of fluid or of a secret
Both characters carry the water radical 氵. 漏 also names a dripping water-clock, so it tilts toward slow seeping; 泄 covers the broader discharge sense, including a secret slipping out.
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).
漏 — water radical 氵 + 屚 (leak component, rain 雨 under roof 尸)
漏 combines the water radical 氵 with 屚, which depicts rain 雨 leaking through a roof 尸. The right side gives both meaning and sound, while 氵 reinforces the water sense. Originally referring to a water clock or leaking water, it now broadly means 'to leak' or 'omit'.