be gradually influenced by prolonged contact
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to be gradually influenced (esp. negatively) through prolonged contact; to acquire (habits) by association
literaryTypically used in literary or formal contexts. Often implies acquiring negative habits or traits through long-term exposure to an environment or people, though it can occasionally be used neutrally.
Tā他
cháng长
qī期
yǔ与
bù不
liáng良
fèn分
zi子
jiāo交
wǎng往
，
jiān渐
rǎn染
le了
dǔ赌
bó博
de的
è恶
xí习
。
After associating with bad elements for a long time, he gradually acquired the bad habit of gambling.
Zài在
zhè这
zhǒng种
huán环
jìng境
zhōng中
shēng生
huó活
jiǔ久
le了
，
nán难
miǎn免
huì会
jiān渐
rǎn染
yī一
xiē些
huài坏
xí习
guàn惯
。
Living in this environment for a long time, it's hard to avoid gradually picking up some bad habits.
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Gǔ古
rén人
suǒ所
wèi谓
"
jìn近
zhū朱
zhě者
chì赤
，
jìn近
mò墨
zhě者
hēi黑
"
，
zhèng正
shì是
jiān渐
rǎn染
zhī之
lǐ理
。
As the ancients said, "One who nears vermilion turns red, one who nears ink turns black"—this is precisely the principle of gradual influence.