润物细无声

潤物細無聲

rùn wù xì wú shēng

quotation

Meanings

1 to nourish things silently / to have a quiet, gradual, profound influence
2 literally: moistens things, fine and soundless

Characters

moisten / nourish

Examples

好的教育应该润物细无声，慢慢改变孩子。

Hǎode jiàoyù yīnggāi rùnwùxìwúshēng, mànmàn gǎibiàn háizi.

Good education should work like silent nourishment, slowly changing the child.

他的榜样作用润物细无声地影响着同事们。

Tā de bǎngyàng zuòyòng rùnwùxìwúshēng de yǐngxiǎng zhe tóngshì men.

His example influences his colleagues silently and imperceptibly.

Tips

history

From Du Fu's (杜甫) Tang poem 《春夜喜雨》 (Delighting in Rain on a Spring Night): 好雨知时节，当春乃发生。随风潜入夜，润物细无声 - 'Good rain knows its season; when spring comes, it brings life. It slips in with the wind at night, moistening things fine and soundless.' Now used figuratively for any subtle, formative influence.

usage

A favorite in speeches about teaching, mentorship, and gentle leadership. Implies slow, unboastful impact, the opposite of loud, showy effort.

Stroke Order

润 rùn

物 wù

细 xì

无 wú

声 shēng