Translation guide
The concept of leakage covers physical leaks of liquids or gases, as well as abstract leaks of information, secrets, or resources. Japanese uses different words depending on what is leaking and the context.
Describing a leak of water, gas, oil, etc., from a container, pipe, or system.
General noun for leakage, often used in technical or everyday contexts for liquids or gases.
ガス漏れが発生しました。
A gas leak occurred.
水道管から水漏れしている。
Water is leaking from the water pipe.
Formal or technical term for leakage, often used in official reports or news about gas, chemicals, or data.
化学物質の漏洩が確認された。
A leakage of chemical substances was confirmed.
Loanword from English 'leak', used in technical contexts like engineering or IT, but less common for physical leaks than 漏れ.
バルブからオイルがリークしている。
Oil is leaking from the valve.
Referring to the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, secrets, or personal data.
The standard term for information leaks, data breaches, or disclosure of secrets. Used in news and business.
個人情報の漏洩が問題になった。
The leakage of personal information became a problem.
企業秘密の漏洩を防ぐ。
Prevent the leakage of corporate secrets.
Often used for large-scale leaks or when data 'flows out' to the public, e.g., leaked documents or videos.
Commonly used for intentional leaks to the media, often with a nuance of whistleblowing or strategic disclosure.
Alternate kanji form of 漏洩, sometimes used in legal or official documents.
Describing the loss or wasteful outflow of funds, revenue, or economic value.
Used for capital flight, brain drain, or any resource draining out of a system.
国内から資金が流出している。
Capital is leaking out of the country.
Can be used metaphorically for small losses or inefficiencies, like revenue leakage.
Referring to unintended escape or loss in technical or abstract domains like physics, computing, or psychology.
General term that can be applied to memory leaks in computing, light leaks in photography, etc.
メモリリーク（メモリ漏れ）が発生した。
A memory leak occurred.
光漏れを防ぐ設計。
A design that prevents light leakage.
Often used as part of compound terms like メモリリーク (memory leak) in IT.
漏れ (もれ) is the most general and neutral term for any kind of leak. 漏洩 (ろうえい) is formal and often used for information or hazardous substances. 流出 (りゅうしゅつ) emphasizes outward flow and is common for data or capital. リーク is a loanword often used for intentional media leaks or technical IT leaks.
The English word 'leakage' is often translated as 漏れ or 漏洩, but the choice depends heavily on context. Using the wrong term can sound unnatural. For example, 'water leakage' is 水漏れ, not 水漏洩.
機密文書がインターネット上に流出した。
Confidential documents were leaked onto the internet.
A whistleblower leaked the information.
情報漏えい対策を強化する。
Strengthen measures against information leakage.
Prevent revenue leakage.
This app is prone to memory leaks.