陶冶情操

táoyě qíngcāo
verb

Meanings

  1. 1 to cultivate one's character
  2. 2 to refine one's taste and feelings

Examples

HSK 3
Tīng yīnyuè kěyǐ táoyě qíngcāo.
Listening to music can refine your character.
HSK 6
Zhōumò tā cháng qù jiāowài xiěshēng, shuō zhèyàng jì néng fàngsōng, yòu néng táoyě qíngcāo.
On weekends he often goes sketching in the countryside, saying it both relaxes him and refines his character.

Tips

usage
A fixed and slightly formal pairing. 陶 is shaping clay and 冶 is smelting metal, so the picture is character being shaped like a pot or a blade. The usual subjects are music, painting, calligraphy, reading and nature.

Stroke Order

陶 táo
冶 yě
情 qíng
操 cāo