潜移默化
qiányí-mòhuàTraditional 潛移默化
to influence imperceptibly
Every meaning
qiányí-mòhuà
- (idiom) to influence imperceptibly
Its characters
- 潜qiánto dive; to go under water
- 移yíto move; to shift
- 默mòsilent; tacit (as in 沉默, 默认)
- 化huàto change; to transform
Words with 潜
Words with 移
Meanings are from Mandarin The Wild’s own dictionary. Levels follow the official HSK word list (the exam’s 2025 syllabus, levels 7–9 shown together).