Some of my foreign friends have expressed interest in learning Chinese recently. Hence, when I came across 潜移默化 (qián yí mò huà) in a book, I knew that I had to spend the time needed to introduce them to this idiom because these four characters showcase the crystallisation of 5000 years of Chinese wisdom.
潜 means "hidden" and 移 (yí) means "to shift". Hence, when paired together, they refer to changes that may not be in-your-face conspicuous or visible.
Then, 默 (mò) means "quiet" and
化 (huà) means "to change". It sounds similar to 潜移 but the focus here is on the gradual pace of change, much like a caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly.
When we combine these two pairs of words, 潜移默化 (qián yí mò huà) describes a transformation that is subtle and gradual. It is often used to describe how one’s behaviours change over time due to external factors like his environment.
You can infer why I like this idiom so much from the sentences I picked it up from:
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将这些习惯在平时运用，潜移默化中， 你干工作也会更加得心应手. When you apply these habits in your daily life, they will be assimilated into your being and help you do work more effectively.
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优秀已经潜移默化地成了你的特质。Quality has become your unique trait without you even realising it.