Chinese word

熏陶

Pronunciation

Pinyinxūn táo

Meaning

  • verbinfluence

Example

好的故事会潜移默化地熏陶孩子。hǎo de gù shì huì qián yí mò huà dì xūn táo hái zi

Good stories subtly influence children.

Illustration for 熏陶 (influence)

More examples

他用自己的言行熏陶了学生。tā yòng zì jǐ de yán xíng xūn táo le xué shēng

He influenced the students through his own words and actions.

Core concept

Ideas and habits seep in through long contact until they become part of a person's character.

Common phrases

  • 熏陶学生xūn táo xué shēng

    influence students

  • 用言行熏陶他人yòng yán xíng xūn táo tā rén

    influence others through one's words and actions

  • 熏陶下一代xūn táo xià yí dài

    influence the next generation

Similar words

影响yíng xiǎng: To affect a person or thing and change its state, behavior, or result.
培养péi yǎng: To steadily develop abilities, habits, or character through guidance and practice.
感化gǎn huà: To move a person's heart through words, actions, or surroundings, improving thoughts or conduct.
陶冶táo yě: To refine character and taste through education and life experience.

Definition in Chinese

使人在长期接触中在思想、审美或行为上受到潜移默化的影响。shǐ rén zài cháng qī jiē chù zhōng zài sī xiǎng shén měi huò xíng wéi shàng shòu dào qián yí mò huà de yíng xiǎng

Word origin

熏陶 (xūntáo, "influence") joins the image of 熏 (xūn, "fumigate or scent") with 陶 (táo, "mold"), suggesting that steady surroundings can gently mold a person.

Usage tips

  • The word commonly presents the result as beneficial, especially when the source is education, culture, or good examples, rather than as pressure or control.

Other meanings

  • edifyverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word