耳濡目染

ěrrú-mùrǎn

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

HSK 3

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 xué huài.

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

HSK 6

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.

HSK 7-9

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