墨すみに染そまれば黒くろくなる

expression, godan verb (-ru)

people are shaped by their environment; walk with the wise and become wise

Proverb meaning that one's character is influenced by the company one keeps, just as something dyed in ink becomes black. The literal image is 'if dyed in ink, it becomes black.'

• 墨すみに染そまれば黒くろくなるというから、友とも達だちはよく選えらんだほうがいい。

  They say 'if dyed in ink, it becomes black,' so you should choose your friends carefully.

• 彼かれは悪わるい仲なか間まとつきあううちに、墨すみに染そまれば黒くろくなるで、すっかり人ひとが変かわってしまった。

  As he hung out with bad company, true to the saying 'walk with the wise and become wise,' he completely changed.