近朱者赤，近墨者黑 — “One is profoundly influenced by their environment and companions”
近朱者赤，近墨者黑 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “one is profoundly influenced by their environment and companions”. Good company makes one better, bad company makes one worse. Literally, “He who stays near vermilion gets stained red; he who stays near ink gets stained black”.
近朱者赤，近墨者黑 Pronunciation and Pinyin
近朱者赤，近墨者黑 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 近朱者赤，近墨者黑
Origin and Story of 近朱者赤，近墨者黑
During the Jin Dynasty, Fu Xuan, a litterateur and philosopher, articulated in his work 'Prince's Junior Tutor Admonitions' (《太子少傅箴》): 'Those who stay near cinnabar turn red; those who stay near ink turn black; a harmonious sound produces a clear echo; a straight form casts a straight shadow.'
This saying illustrates that individuals are significantly influenced by their surroundings; a good environment leads to positive development, while a bad one can lead to negative changes, highlighting the profound impact of one's environment on their character and conduct.
Idioms Related to 近朱者赤，近墨者黑
Synonyms of 近朱者赤，近墨者黑
More idioms starting with 近
- jìn近xiāng乡qíng情qiè怯apprehension nearing hometown after long absence
- jìn近jiāo交yuǎn远gōng攻befriend nearby, attack distant
- jìn近qīn亲fán繁zhí殖inbreeding or lack of diversity
- jìn近zài在zhǐ咫chǐ尺extremely close at hand
- jìn近zài在méi眉jié睫imminent; close at hand
- jìn近yuè悦yuǎn远lái来content locals attract distant people
- jìn近zhū朱zhě者chì赤Good company makes good people
- jìn近shuǐ水lóu楼tái台enjoy priority due to favorable position
- jìn近shuǐ水lóu楼tái台xiān先dé得yuè月Proximity to power brings privilege
- jìn近huǒ火xiān先jiāo焦Those nearest danger suffer first
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Open the tool →Questions about 近朱者赤，近墨者黑
What does 近朱者赤，近墨者黑 mean?
近朱者赤，近墨者黑 (jìn zhū zhě chì ， jìn mò zhě hēi) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “one is profoundly influenced by their environment and companions”.
How do you pronounce 近朱者赤，近墨者黑?
近朱者赤，近墨者黑 is pronounced jìn zhū zhě chì ， jìn mò zhě hēi in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 近朱者赤，近墨者黑 literally mean?
Literally, 近朱者赤，近墨者黑 means “He who stays near vermilion gets stained red; he who stays near ink gets stained black”. It is used to mean “one is profoundly influenced by their environment and companions”.
Where does 近朱者赤，近墨者黑 come from?
近朱者赤，近墨者黑 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 近朱者赤，近墨者黑?
靠着朱砂的变红，靠着墨的变黑。比喻接近好人可以使人变好，接近坏人可以使人变坏。指客观环境对人有很大影响。