曝光

• Pinyin: bào guāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 曝 = 日 (sun) + 暴 (phonetic, also means expose); 光 = light pictograph

Meaning

To expose (to light); to expose (a scandal); to make public; media exposure.

Originally a photography term meaning to expose film to light. Now commonly used to mean exposing wrongdoing, scandals, or secrets to public attention. Also used neutrally for media exposure or publicity.

Examples

1. 这位明星的丑闻被媒体曝光后，事业一落千丈。 After this celebrity's scandal was exposed by the media, their career went downhill fast.
2. 记者冒着风险曝光了那家工厂的污染问题。 The journalist risked everything to expose that factory's pollution problem.
3. 新产品还没发布就被曝光了，公司正在调查泄密渠道。 The new product was leaked before launch — the company is investigating the source.

Usage Guide

Context: media, journalism, scandal

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 这件事必须曝光。(This matter must be exposed.)
• 他最近曝光率很高。(He's had a lot of media exposure lately.)

Don't Say

• 把隐私正当分享说成'曝光' (Don't say 曝光 for legitimate sharing — the word implies unwanted exposure)

Origin & History

曝 (to expose to sun) + 光 (light). Originally meant exposing to light, now extended to exposing information.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal