漏

It is traditionally analyzed as a compound ideogram, though in later lexicography it is often treated functionally as phono-semantic:

水 (water) — semantic component

屚 (to leak) — phonetic/semantic component

The character depicts water escaping from a structure, emphasizing uncontrolled outflow.

The element 屚 already carried the idea of leaking or dripping, and the addition of 水 clarifies that the leakage involves liquid.

Semantic development:

- water leaking, dripping

- information leakage

- oversight or omission

- fault or imperfection

누수 (漏水) — water leakage

비밀이 새다 / 정보가 새다 (情報漏洩) — information leak

누락 (漏落 / 漏缺) — omission

결함이 있다 (漏洞) — to have a flaw / loophole

Related characters:

洩 / 泄 — to leak, to spill (near-synonyms)

屚 — to leak (original component)

漏 — leak (standard form)

洞 — hole (semantic association)

缺 — deficiency (abstract extension)

漏 contrasts with 洩 / 泄:

漏 — emphasizes unintended leakage

洩 / 泄 — often implies release or discharge

In legal and technical language, 漏洞 (“leak-hole”) means loophole.

Figuratively, 漏 often criticizes carelessness, incompleteness, or lack of discipline.

In classical texts, it frequently appears in moral warnings about speech and secrecy.