近朱者赤, 近墨者黑

近朱者赤, 近墨者黑 [jìn zhū zhě chì jìn mò zhě hēi]

1. ■ take one's color from one's surroundings; He that lives with cripples learns to limp.; He who handles vermilion will be reddened, and he who touches ink will be blackened.; He who lies with dogs will rise with fleas.; He who plays with pitch must defile his fingers.; If you live with a lame person you will learn to limp.; moral influence by contact [close association]; Near ink, one gets stained black.; Near vermilion, one gets stained pink.; One takes the colour of one's company.; What's near cinnabar goes red, and what's next to ink turns black.