Chinese characters and pinyin
Simplified: 近朱者赤，近墨者黑
Traditional: 近朱者赤，近墨者黑
Pinyin: jìn zhū zhě chì, jìn mò zhě hēi
Literal translation
Near vermilion one becomes red; near ink one becomes black.
Natural English meaning
The people and environment around us shape our character and habits.
Closest English equivalent
A person is known by the company they keep.
The Chinese saying focuses on influence; the English one often focuses on judgment by association.
When to use it
Use it when discussing peer influence or environment.
When not to use it
Avoid reducing a person entirely to their social circle.
Example sentence
学习环境很重要，近朱者赤，近墨者黑。
A learning environment matters because those around us influence our habits.
Origin and cultural context
Attributed to the Jin-dynasty writer Fu Xuan and preserved as a concise observation about influence.
Classification: classical quotation. This label distinguishes a complete proverb or popular saying from a compact idiom or a quotation preserved from a classical text.
