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

HSK 4

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.

HSK 6

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