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

DEFINITIONS

  1. those who handle cinnabar are stained red; those who work with ink are stained black (idiom)
  2. you are the product of your environment

CHARACTERS

近 jìn
HSK 2
near, close; approach; intimate
朱 zhū cinnabar, vermilion; surname
者 zhě
HSK 3
that which; he who; those who
赤 chì
HSK 6
red; communist, 'red'; bare
近 jìn
HSK 2
near, close; approach; intimate
墨 mò
HSK 6
ink; writing
者 zhě
HSK 3
that which; he who; those who
黑 hēi
HSK 2
black; dark; evil, sinister