1.
education, moral cultivation, nurturing influence
The process of educating and morally cultivating someone through personal influence, guidance, or example, like a craftsman shapes clay.
師の薫陶を受ける。
To receive guidance from one's teacher.
長年の薫陶が実った。
Years of cultivation have borne fruit.
彼は先代社長の薫陶を受けて育った。
He was raised under the guidance of the former president.
若手を薫陶して後継者を育てる。
To nurture young people and develop successors.
薫陶 refers to moral education through personal influence.
ETYMOLOGY:
From 薫 (fragrance, to perfume) and 陶 (pottery, to mold). The word evokes the image of gradually shaping someone's character like a potter shapes clay while imbuing it with fragrance.
USAGE:
- 薫陶する: to educate, to cultivate (suru-verb)
- 薫陶を受ける: to receive guidance/cultivation
- 〜の薫陶を受けて: under the influence/guidance of
REGISTER:
Formal and literary; often used in formal speeches or writing about mentorship.
RELATED:
- 教育: education (more general)
- 指導: instruction, guidance
- 感化: influence, inspiration