近朱者赤，近墨者黑

jìnzhūzhěchì,jìnmòzhěhēi

idiom

Meanings

1 those who handle cinnabar are stained red, those who work with ink are stained black
2 you become like the company you keep

Characters

vermilion / cinnabar

，

Examples

HSK 7-9

近朱者赤，近墨者黑，所以要慎重选择朋友。

Jìn zhū zhě chì, jìn mò zhě hēi, suǒyǐ yào shènzhòng xuǎnzé péngyou.

You become what you surround yourself with, so choose your friends carefully.

HSK 7-9

古人说近朱者赤，近墨者黑，环境对孩子的影响很大。

Gǔrén shuō jìn zhū zhě chì, jìn mò zhě hēi, huánjìng duì háizi de yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.

The ancients said one is colored by their company - the environment has a huge effect on children.

Tips

history

From 傅玄's 《太子少傅箴》 (Admonitions for the Crown Prince's Tutor), Western Jin dynasty: 故近朱者赤，近墨者黑；声和则响清，形正则影直 - therefore those near cinnabar turn red, those near ink turn black; if the sound is harmonious the echo is clear, if the form is upright the shadow is straight.

memory

朱 (zhū) = vermilion/cinnabar (red ink), 墨 (mò) = black ink. Picture a scribe whose hands are stained by whichever ink they grind.

Stroke Order

近 jìn

朱 zhū

者 zhě

赤 chì

墨 mò

黑 hēi