洩

A phono-semantic compound:

水 (water) — semantic component

曳 (to drag; to trail) — phonetic component

The character depicts water being dragged outward, emphasizing flow with extension, not merely escape.

From the concrete idea of water spreading as it flows, meanings expanded to:

- leaking or seeping

- diffusion and dispersal

- leaking secrets or information

- venting emotions

Compared to 泄, 洩 places slightly more emphasis on spreading outward rather than mere loss.

Appears mainly in Sino-Korean compounds, often interchangeable with 泄. In modern writing, 泄 is more common, but 洩 is still understood.

누설 (洩漏 / 泄漏) — leakage; disclosure

비밀을 누설하다 (洩密) — to leak a secret

분노를 풀다 (洩憤) — to vent anger

기체가 퍼지다 (氣體洩散) — gas disperses

정보 확산 (信息洩出) — information spreads out

Related characters:

泄 — to leak (simplified / parallel form)

漏 — to leak (physical leakage)

散 — to scatter (spreading)

發 — to emit (outward release)

排 — to discharge (controlled release)

洩 often suggests gradual spreading, while 泄 can feel more abrupt.

In classical texts, 洩 is stylistically preferred.

The “spread” nuance explains the secondary Korean reading 예 (ye).

Semantically contrasts with 藏 (“to store, conceal”).

In Simplified Chinese, 泄 officially replaces 洩. Historically, they coexisted as graphic variants with overlapping meanings.