泄密

• Pinyin: xiè mì
• Hanzi breakdown: 泄 = 氵+ 世 (discharge/leak); 密 = 宀 + 必 (roof + must — sealed under a roof, secret)

Meaning

To leak classified or confidential information; to disclose secrets. Often implies a breach of duty or trust in official, military, or national security contexts.

More specific than 泄露, 泄密 focuses on the leaking of secrets (密 = secret/classified). It carries strong legal and criminal connotations, especially in the context of state secrets, military intelligence, or corporate confidential information.

Examples

1. 涉嫌泄密的官员已被有关部门带走配合调查。 The official suspected of leaking classified information has been taken in by the relevant authorities to assist with the investigation.
2. 该案件涉及严重泄密行为，被告面临最高十五年有期徒刑。 The case involves a serious leak of classified information, and the defendant faces up to fifteen years in prison.
3. 公司要求所有员工签署保密协议，严禁向外界泄密。 The company requires all employees to sign confidentiality agreements and strictly forbids leaking information to outsiders.

Usage Guide

Context: law, military, national security, corporate

Tone: negative

Do Say

• 经查实，该军官通过加密通讯设备向境外势力泄密，已被依法逮捕并移送司法机关处理。(After investigation, it was confirmed that the officer leaked classified information to foreign forces via encrypted communication devices and has been arrested and referred to judicial authorities.)
• 保密法规定，凡故意泄密者，依据情节轻重，将承担相应的刑事责任。(The Secrecy Law stipulates that anyone who intentionally leaks secrets shall bear corresponding criminal liability based on the severity of the circumstances.)

Don't Say

• 他泄密了我的计划 — 泄密 is for officially classified or formally secret information; use 透露 or 说出去 for casual secrets

Origin & History

泄 (to let out/leak) + 密 (secret/classified) — to let out what is classified or secret

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal