A part of our identity can be the product of others’ influence. Learn to use this idiom when you observe a person is influenced by his/her family.
耳濡目染 (ěr rú mù rǎn): means often heard, seen, and thus profoundly affected unconsciously.
Equivalent in English: be subtly influenced, osmosis
Examples:
- 因為母親是音樂家，她從小耳濡目染，所以音樂底子不錯
- Yīnwèi mǔqīn shì yīnyuè jiā, tā cóngxiǎo ěrrúmùrǎn, suǒyǐ yīnyuè dǐzi bùcuò
- Because her mother is a musician, she has been influenced by her ears since she was a child, so she has a good foundation in music.
- 小明父母是美術工作者，他平時耳濡目染，從小就喜歡繪畫
- Xiǎomíng fùmǔ shì měishù gōngzuò zhě, tā píngshí ěrrúmùrǎn, cóngxiǎo jiù xǐhuān huìhuà
- Xiao Ming’s parents are art workers. Therefore, they have influenced him greatly, and have liked painting since childhood.
- 也許是耳濡目染的關係，相處久了，我竟發現自己的價值觀深受他的影響。
- Yěxǔ shì ěrrúmùrǎn de guānxì, xiāngchǔ jiǔle, wǒ jìng fāxiàn zìjǐ de jiàzhíguān shēn shòu tā de yǐngxiǎng.
- Maybe it’s osmosis. After getting along for a long time, I found that he profoundly influences my values.
