Meaning and Usage
The verb 漏らす (もらす) primarily means "to let leak" or "to reveal unintentionally." It is often used when something secret, private, or unwanted is accidentally disclosed or escapes, such as information, emotions, or liquids.
Common Contexts
Information or Secrets: 漏らす is frequently used to describe the act of leaking confidential information or secrets. For example, "秘密を漏らす" means "to leak a secret."
Physical Leakage: It can also describe physical substances leaking, such as water or gas, e.g., "水が漏らしている" means "water is leaking."
Emotional Expression: Sometimes it is used metaphorically for revealing feelings or emotions unintentionally.
Collocations and Patterns
- 秘密を漏らす: to leak a secret
- 涙を漏らす: to shed tears (reveal emotions)
- 情報を漏らす: to disclose information
- 水を漏らす: to let water leak
Register and Nuance
漏らす is a neutral verb but often carries a nuance of unintended or accidental disclosure. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts but is more frequent in written or formal speech when discussing leaks or disclosures.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 漏らす with 漏れる (もれる). 漏らす is a transitive verb (you actively let something leak), while 漏れる is intransitive (something leaks by itself). For example:
- 水を漏らす (to let water leak)
- 水が漏れる (water leaks)
Understanding this distinction is important for correct usage.