The word 漏斗 is formed by combining the character 漏, meaning "to leak" or "leakage", with 斗, meaning a "dipper" or "container". Together, they create a compound noun where 漏 describes the function and 斗 describes the object, literally indicating a "leaking container" that channels substances from a wide opening to a narrow one, which is the essential structure and purpose of a funnel.