Definition
透风 is a separable verb-object (离合词) with two main uses. One is literal: 'to let air in, to ventilate' — you can say 开窗透风 or use the split form 透了风 to talk about airing something out. The other is figurative: 'to leak information or hints' — often in the split form 透点风 ('drop a hint') or 透了口风 ('spill the beans'). When splitting, the parts 透 and 风 behave as verb and object, so measure words or modifiers go between them.
v.o.
(v.o.) to ventilateto let fresh air in(v.o.) to drop a hintto leak information
Examples
- 透风，。Zhège fángjiān bú tài tòu fēng, gǎnjué hěn mèn.This room doesn't get much air; it feels stuffy.
- ，。Tā xiàng jìzhě tòu le diǎnr fēng, shuō gōngsī yào cáiyuán.He dropped a hint to the reporters that the company was going to lay off staff.
- ，透风。Tiānqì rè le, xūyào kāi chuāng tòu fēng.It's hot — I need to open the window and let some air in.
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