潜移默化 [- - mò huà]influence character by environment; be unconsciously influenced; exert a subtle influence on sb.'s character [thinking, etc.]; a silent transforming influence of:
•¶ 教师们每日每时都在对学生的性格起着潜移默化的作用。 The teachers are daily and hourly exercising an invisible, formative influence on the pupils' character.