露

• Pinyin: lòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 露 = 雨 (rain) + 路 (phonetic), originally dew, extended to expose/reveal

Meaning

To reveal; to show; to expose. Making something hidden become visible.

Pronounced lòu in colloquial contexts (reveal/expose) vs. lù (dew/formal). Common phrases: 露馅儿 (let the cat out of the bag), 露面 (show one's face), 露出 (reveal), 露一手 (show off one's skills). Often implies unintentional revealing.

Examples

1. 他本来想隐瞒真相，但最后还是露馅儿了。 He originally wanted to hide the truth, but in the end he gave himself away.
2. 她难得露面，大家都很想念她。 She rarely makes an appearance; everyone misses her a lot.
3. 厨师今天要露一手，给大家做几道拿手菜。 The chef is going to show off his skills today and cook some of his signature dishes for everyone.

Usage Guide

Context: secrets, skills, appearances

Tone: colloquial

Do Say

• 你的秘密露出来了。(Your secret has been revealed.)
• 让他露两手给我们看看。(Let him show us his skills.)

Don't Say

• 正式场合用露馅儿 (露馅儿 is colloquial; in formal contexts use 暴露 or 揭露)

Origin & History

Original meaning was 'dew' (lù). Extended to 'expose' (lòu) because dew is visible on surfaces when revealed by light.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal