露
Character Story & Explanation
露 is widely used in modern Chinese media and formal speech. You’ll hear lòu in phrases like 露馅儿 (lòu xiànr) — 'to give away a secret', a common idiom since at least the Ming dynasty (documented in vernacular novels like Water Margin). In news reports, 露面 (lòu miàn) regularly describes officials or celebrities 'making a public appearance'. It also appears in fixed expressions like 初露锋芒 (chū lù fēng máng) — 'to show early promise', used in education and talent reviews.
The character’s form combines 雨 (rain) + 路 (lù, 'road'), not because it means 'rain on the road', but because 路 was borrowed for its sound (lù) to indicate pronunciation—a classic phonetic-semantic compound. The rain radical signals a natural, visible phenomenon, fitting both 'dew' (lù) and 'revealing' (lòu).
Hi students! Let’s learn 露 (lòu), a versatile character meaning 'to show' or 'to reveal'. Though it looks complex with 21 strokes and the 'rain' radical (雨), don’t be intimidated—it’s logical! The rain radical hints at something appearing *naturally*, like dew or mist forming—so 'showing' often implies emergence without force. At HSK 6, it appears in formal and literary contexts, not beginner dialogues.
Remember: 露 has two standard pronunciations. Use lòu when it means 'to show/reveal' (e.g., 露面 lòu miàn — 'to appear'). Use lù for 'dew' or 'exposure' as a noun (e.g., 露水 lùshuǐ — 'dew'). This tone-based meaning split is common in Chinese—like 行 (xíng/háng) or 乐 (lè/yuè).
As a teacher, I emphasize listening first: lòu rhymes with 'go' but with a falling tone (4th tone). Practice saying lòu miàn slowly—'LOH MYEN'—then speed up. Writing-wise, follow the stroke order: start with the rain radical on top (8 strokes), then the lower part 路 (lù, 'road')—yes, it shares sound and shape with 路! This visual link helps memory: 'something appears *on the road*—it shows up!'
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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