耳濡目染

ěr rú mù rǎn

to absorb by constant exposure

Character by character

耳ěr
ears

濡rú
soaked

目mù
eyes

染rǎn
dyed

他从小在上海长大，耳濡目染，也学会了上海话。

Growing up in Shanghai, he picked up Shanghainese just by hearing it around him.

Tone: neutral.

Learn this in Lesson 34 · HSK 5–6: 方言与普通话 (Dialects and the standard language)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.