HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15776, Hard
泄
xiè
to drip
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15776, Hard
泄
xiè
to drain
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15776, Hard
泄
xiè
to discharge
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15776, Hard
泄
xiè
to leak out
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15776, Hard
泄
xiè
to divulge (secrets)
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15776, Hard
泄
xiè
to give vent (to anger, spite etc)
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15776, Hard
泄
xiè
to disperse
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15776, Hard
泄
xiè
to reduce
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15776, Hard
泄
xiè
drip, leak, vent; to disperse; to reduce
HSK 7, zg, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #15776, Hard
xiè(xie4) T4
1to leak (of water or gas)
2to drip
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March 24, 2026
泄xiè(xie4)
The character 泄 (xiè) primarily means to leak or drip, commonly used in contexts involving liquids or gases escaping from a container. It can also refer to the act of divulging secrets or emotions, such as venting anger. This duality highlights both physical and emotional expressions of release.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#15776DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of venting one's emotions is often seen as a necessary release to maintain mental health. The character 泄 is used in idioms that emphasize the importance of expressing feelings rather than bottling them up.
Memory Tip
Imagine a leaky water pipe, where water (represented by the radical 水) is dripping out. You can think of 'xiè' as the sound of water leaking, and picture the frustration of someone trying to fix the leak while simultaneously feeling overwhelmed by emotions they wish to express, mirroring the idea of venting.
Meanings of 泄
xiè(xie4)
1to leak (of water or gas)
2to drip
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 泄
泄Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#15776Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 泄
Podcast: 泄
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AI Study Notes for 泄
Quick Contrast
泄 (xiè) vs 漏 (lòu) — use 泄 for emotional release or secrets, 漏 for physical leakage of liquids.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a leaky water pipe, where water (represented by the radical 水) is dripping out. You can think of 'xiè' as the sound of water leaking, and picture the frustration of someone trying to fix the leak while simultaneously feeling overwhelmed by emotions they wish to express, mirroring the idea of venting.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 泄 with other similar-sounding characters, like 謝 (xiè), which means to thank. 泄 is more commonly used in both informal and formal settings when discussing leaks, while venting emotional content may be used more casually. Common collocations include 泄漏 (liquid/gas leak) and 情绪泄露 (emotional venting).
HSK Study Tips
Though 泄 is not included in the official HSK lists, it connects well with HSK Level 3 vocabulary related to feelings and physical actions, such as 漏 (lòu, to leak) and 发 (fā, to send or release). Students should focus on recognizing the context in which 泄 is used, especially regarding emotions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of venting one's emotions is often seen as a necessary release to maintain mental health. The character 泄 is used in idioms that emphasize the importance of expressing feelings rather than bottling them up.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 泄 (xiè) with 谢 (xiè), leading to incorrect meanings like 'thank' instead of 'leak'. Remember that 泄 pertains to release, while 谢 involves gratitude.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 泄
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Grammar Patterns of 泄
泄 carries 10 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我深感____气地回去把这消息告诉了比尔。
Despondently, I went back and told Bill the news.
Common Confusions with 泄
泄vs解
jiě
Similar shape and sound; both can refer to 'release' in different contexts.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to leak (of water or gas)"?
or
Usage Notes for 泄
Misuse in ContextCommon Error
Learners often confuse 泄 with other verbs that indicate release or flow, such as 排 (pái) or 释放 (shìfàng).
1
水管泄漏
The water pipe is leaking.
2
他释放了他的情绪。
He released his emotions.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
水管____漏
The water pipe is leaking.
Example Sentences for 泄 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我深感泄气地回去把这消息告诉了比尔。
wǒ shēn gǎn xiè qì dì huí qù bǎ zhè xiāo xī gào sù le bǐ ěr。
Despondently, I went back and told Bill the news.
2
他还有很多强压的愤怒要发泄。
tā huán yǒu hěn duō qiáng yā de fèn nù yào fā xiè。
He still had a lot of pent-up anger to release.
3
在交通的晚高峰时段，这里通常被车辆堵得水泄不通。
zài jiāo tōng de wǎn gāo fēng shí duàn， ， zhè lǐ tōng cháng bèi chē liàng dǔ dé shuǐ xiè bù。
During the evening rush hour it was often solid with vehicles.
4
这两个共谋者的表情泄漏了秘密。
zhè liǎng gè gòng móu zhě de biǎo qíng xiè lòu le mì mì。
The faces of the two conspirators gave the game away.
In Chinese culture, the act of venting one's emotions is often seen as a necessary release to maintain mental health. The character 泄 is used in idioms that emphasize the importance of expressing feelings rather than bottling them up.
Word Family of 泄
Words Containing This Character20
发泄fāxièto give vent to (one's feelings)發洩
泄露xièlùto divulge
泄xièto drip
泄漏xièlòuto leak
宣泄xuānxièto divulge宣洩
泄密xièmìto leak secrets洩密
排泄to drain (factory waste etc)
泄气xièqìto leak (gas)洩氣
排泄物excrement
水泄不通lit. not one drop can trickle through (idiom); fig. impenetrable (crowd, traffic)水洩不通
泄愤to give vent to anger洩憤
泄洪flood discharge洩洪
外泄to leak (usually secret information)
早泄premature ejaculation早洩
泄泻loose bowels洩瀉
泄恨to give vent to anger洩恨
泄殖腔cloaca洩殖腔
天机不可泄漏I am not at liberty to inform you.天機不可泄漏
泄底to divulge the inside story洩底
泄私愤to vent personal spite洩私憤
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 发泄 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 泄
It can refer to either a physical leak or the act of expressing emotions like anger or frustration.
Yes, it can be used formally when discussing leaks in contexts like engineering or environmental issues.
No, it also involves gases and emotional expressions.
