Bedeutung
Bad company influences you negatively.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Vietnam, the proverb is often used by parents as a 'veto' power over their children's friendships. It reflects a deep-seated belief that the community is responsible for the individual's morality. The proverb aligns with the Confucian idea that humans are born good but are corrupted by their environment. Education and choosing the right mentors are seen as the only ways to stay 'bright.' In modern cities like Saigon or Hanoi, this proverb is now applied to 'networking.' Young professionals use 'gần đèn thì sáng' to justify paying for expensive seminars or joining elite clubs. In villages, this proverb is used to maintain social order. If one family's child is 'black' (bad), other parents will tell their children to stay away to avoid the 'ink' spreading.
Use the full version for impact
While 'Gần mực thì đen' is common, using the full 'Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì sáng' makes you sound much more poetic and fluent.
Don't be too judgmental
Calling someone 'mực' (ink) can be very offensive as it implies they are a source of moral corruption.
Bedeutung
Bad company influences you negatively.
Use the full version for impact
While 'Gần mực thì đen' is common, using the full 'Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì sáng' makes you sound much more poetic and fluent.
Don't be too judgmental
Calling someone 'mực' (ink) can be very offensive as it implies they are a source of moral corruption.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the proverb with the correct words.
Gần mực thì ______, gần đèn thì ______.
The standard form is 'đen' (black) and 'sáng' (bright).
Which situation best fits the proverb 'Gần mực thì đen'?
A student starts hanging out with a group that skips class and his grades drop.
This situation describes a negative influence from a social group.
Choose the best response for the dialogue.
A: 'Tôi lo cho con trai tôi quá, nó dạo này hay đi chơi với mấy đứa lười học.' - B: '_________________'
B should agree with the concern using the negative warning.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
The Two Paths
Aufgabensammlung
3 AufgabenGần mực thì ______, gần đèn thì ______.
The standard form is 'đen' (black) and 'sáng' (bright).
A student starts hanging out with a group that skips class and his grades drop.
This situation describes a negative influence from a social group.
A: 'Tôi lo cho con trai tôi quá, nó dạo này hay đi chơi với mấy đứa lười học.' - B: '_________________'
B should agree with the concern using the negative warning.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenYes, the 'ink' part is always a warning about negative influence. For positive influence, you must use the 'lamp' (đèn) part.
Yes, it's very common to describe a toxic or a great workplace culture using this proverb.
Only if you are very close. Otherwise, it might sound like you are judging their other friends.
The most famous opposite is the lotus metaphor: 'Gần bùn mà chẳng hôi tanh mùi bùn' (Near mud but not smelling of mud).
Verwandte Redewendungen
Ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã
similarOxen seek oxen, horses seek horses.
Chọn bạn mà chơi
builds onChoose your friends to play with.
Ở bầu thì tròn, ở ống thì dài
similarIn a gourd you are round, in a tube you are long.
