耳濡目染
耳濡目染 (ěr rú mù rǎn) literally means “ears soaked, eyes dyed” and expresses “learning unconsciously through constant exposure”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: er ru mu ran, er ru mu ran,耳濡目染 meaning, 耳濡目染 in english
Learning unconsciously through constant exposure
Pronunciation: ěr rú mù rǎn Literal meaning: Ears soaked, eyes dyed
Origin & Usage
This comes from Han Yu of the Tang, on a child raised among capable people who acquires their skill without study: the ears (耳) are steeped (濡) and the eyes (目) are dyed (染). Both verbs are from cloth-making, and both describe a change that happens by immersion over time and cannot be undone by decision. Being shaped without noticing by whatever one has been surrounded by for long enough.
Examples
English: "Growing up in a musical family, she absorbed advanced techniques without formal training"
Chinese: 在音乐世家长大，她在没有正式训练的情况下吸收了高级技巧
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
耳目一新
ěr mù yī xīn
A refreshing new experience
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一叶障目
yī yè zhàng mù
Miss big picture
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刮目相看
guā mù xiāng kàn
Reassess someone who has improved
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耳聪目明
ěr cōng mù míng
Perceptive and insightful
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目不转睛
mù bù zhuǎn jīng
Focus intently
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目无全牛
mù wú quán niú
Achieve instinctive mastery
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目不暇给
mù bù xiá jǐ
Too much to take in
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鱼目混珠
yú mù hùn zhū
Passing fakes as genuine
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 耳濡目染 mean in English?
耳濡目染 (ěr rú mù rǎn) literally translates to “Ears soaked, eyes dyed” and is used to express “Learning unconsciously through constant exposure”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 耳濡目染 used?
Situation: Growing up in a musical family, she absorbed advanced techniques without formal training
What is the pinyin for 耳濡目染?
The pinyin pronunciation for 耳濡目染 is “ěr rú mù rǎn”.