tiêm nhiễm
Definition
- Verb:
- To become imbued with; to become steeped in; to absorb gradually: Refers to the slow, often unconscious, process of acquiring a negative habit, idea, or influence through repeated exposure.
- To contract; to pick up: To acquire something undesirable, such as a bad habit or vice, from one's environment or associates.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Trẻ con dễ bị tiêm nhiễm thói xấu từ bạn bè. (Children easily pick up bad habits from friends.)
- Anh ấy đã tiêm nhiễm tư tưởng bi quan sau nhiều năm làm việc trong môi trường đó. (He became steeped in pessimistic thoughts after many years working in that environment.)
- Cần ngăn chặn thanh thiếu niên tiêm nhiễm các trào lưu độc hại trên mạng. (We must prevent young people from absorbing harmful trends online.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used for negative or undesirable influences. It is not used for learning positive things.
- It often implies a passive, gradual process of influence, rather than active learning.
Variants and Related Words
- Nhiễm (v): to be infected (used for diseases, but also for negative influences). is a component of and can sometimes be used similarly, though emphasizes a more gradual, deep-seated process.
- Nhiễm virus. (To be infected with a virus.)
- Nhiễm thói hư tật xấu. (To be infected with bad habits.)
Synonyms
- To imbibe (a bad habit/idea).
- To assimilate (negative influences).
- To be contaminated by (figuratively).
- To be indoctrinated with (negative ideas).
Related Idioms
- While itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the concept is central to phrases like:
- Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì sáng: Literally "Near ink, you get black; near a light, you become bright." This proverb explains the concept of tiêm nhiễm, meaning one is influenced by one's company.