耳濡目染

ěrrúmùrǎn

idiom #40,405

Meanings

1 to be influenced by what one constantly sees and hears
2 to be imperceptibly shaped by one's environment

Characters

to moisten; to soak

to dye; to be tinged with

Examples

她从小在戏曲家庭长大，耳濡目染，自然也能唱几段。

Tā cóngxiǎo zài xìqǔ jiātíng zhǎngdà, ěrrúmùrǎn, zìrán yě néng chàng jǐ duàn.

Growing up in an opera family, she was steeped in it from childhood and naturally could sing a few pieces herself.

孩子在这样的环境里耳濡目染，很容易学坏。

Háizi zài zhèyàng de huánjìng lǐ ěrrúmùrǎn, hěn róngyì xuéhuài.

Children constantly exposed to such an environment can easily pick up bad habits.

父母的言行举止，子女耳濡目染，影响深远。

Fùmǔ de yánxíng jǔzhǐ, zǐnǚ ěrrúmùrǎn, yǐngxiǎng shēnyuǎn.

Children absorb their parents' words and conduct day by day — the influence is far-reaching.

Tips

history

From Han Yu's Tang-dynasty 《清河郡公房公墓碣铭》: 目濡耳染，不学以能 — 'shaped by what one sees and hears, able without formal study.' The word order was later swapped to 耳濡目染.

usage

Describes unconscious, gradual influence from environment or upbringing — usually not a deliberate teaching process. Can be positive or negative depending on context.

Stroke Order

耳 ěr

濡 rú

目 mù

染 rǎn