Chinese word

近朱者赤

Pronunciation

Pinyinjìn zhū zhě chì

Meaning

idiomyou become like your friends

Example

交朋友要小心，近朱者赤。jiāo péng yǒu yào xiǎo xīn jìn zhū zhě chì

Be careful when making friends; you become like your friends.

Illustration for 近朱者赤 (you become like your friends)

More examples

经理在会议上提醒大家：近朱者赤。jīng lǐ zài huì yì shàng tí xǐng dà jiā jìn zhū zhě chì

The manager reminded everyone at the meeting that you become like your friends.

Core concept

Nearby people gradually color a person's habits and character, like dye soaking into cloth.

Common phrases

说近朱者赤shuō jìn zhū zhě chì
say that you become like your friends
用近朱者赤来提醒yòng jìn zhū zhě chì lái tí xǐng
use to remind others that you become like your friends

Similar words

耳濡目染ěr rú mù rǎn: Repeatedly seeing and hearing something can quietly shape a person's thoughts and behavior.
近墨者黑jìn mò zhě hēi: Being around bad people can gradually lead a person to become bad as well.
潜移默化qián yí mò huà: Outside influences can slowly sink in and change a person's thoughts and attitude.

Definition in Chinese

用来说明环境对人有同化作用，强调接触后习惯和性格会逐渐改变。yòng lái shuō míng huán jìng duì rén yǒu tóng huà zuò yòng qiáng diào jiē chù hòu xí guàn hé xìng gé huì zhú jiàn gǎi biàn

Word origin

The idiom 近朱者赤 (jìnzhūzhěchì, "near cinnabar, one becomes red") uses the image of red cinnabar coloring whatever comes near it to express gradual influence between people.

Usage tips

This expression suits a comment about a person's social circle, but its proverb-like tone is more formal than ordinary casual speech.