habits form character; custom shapes personality
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
long-term habits shape one's personality; what is learned becomes part of one's nature
literaryA classical four-character idiom emphasizing that repeated behaviors eventually become ingrained character traits. Often used in educational contexts regarding child development.
Zhèng正
suǒ所
wèi谓
xí习
yǔ与
xìng性
chéng成
，
cóng从
xiǎo小
yǎng养
chéng成
hǎo好
xí习
guàn惯
duì对
hái孩
zi子
de的
yī一
shēng生
dōu都
hěn很
zhòng重
yào要
。
As the saying goes, habits form character; developing good habits from childhood is crucial for a child's entire life.
Fù父
mǔ母
yào要
zhù注
yì意
yán言
chuán传
shēn身
jiào教
，
yīn因
wèi为
xí习
yǔ与
xìng性
chéng成
，
hái孩
zi子
de的
xìng性
gé格
duō多
yóu由
rì日
cháng常
xí习
guàn惯
jī积
lěi累
ér而
chéng成
。
Parents should pay attention to teaching by word and deed, because habits form character; a child's personality is largely shaped by accumulated daily habits.
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Gǔ古
rén人
yún云
xí习
yǔ与
xìng性
chéng成
，
suǒ所
yǐ以
wǒ我
men们
bì必
xū须
jǐng警
tì惕
huài坏
xí习
guàn惯
de的
yǎng养
chéng成
。
The ancients said that habits form character, so we must be vigilant against developing bad habits.