地球在泄漏什么？从大气到地核

What does “泄漏 (xielou)” mean in Chinese?

This science explainer asks 地球在泄漏什么? (“What is Earth leaking?”) and the key verb is 泄漏 (xièlòu), “to leak.” The planet leaks hydrogen from the upper atmosphere, 甲烷 (jiǎwán) (methane) from abandoned oil wells, and heat from its 地核 (dìhé) (core). 泄 means to let out or release; 漏 means to leak or drip.

The word reaches far beyond geology. In daily Chinese you’ll meet 泄漏机密 (to leak secrets), 信息泄漏 (an information leak), and 天然气泄漏 (a gas leak). You may also see the close variant 泄露. Learn 泄漏 and you can follow Chinese reporting on everything from pipelines to data breaches.