乘人之危
乘人之危 (chéng rén zhī wēi) literally means “ride person's danger” and expresses “exploit others during their vulnerability”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: cheng ren zhi wei, cheng ren zhi wei,乘人之危 meaning, 乘人之危 in english
Exploit others during their vulnerability
Pronunciation: chéng rén zhī wēi Literal meaning: Ride person's danger
Origin & Usage
Han Dynasty military treatises first condemned this practice of taking advantage (乘) of others' moments of vulnerability (危). Tang Dynasty Confucian scholars expanded it into a broader ethical principle. The metaphor of 'mounting' someone's difficulty suggested using their misfortune as a stepping stone for personal gain. Contemporary business ethics still wrestle with questions of when competitive advantage crosses into exploitation.
When to Use
Situation: The competitor offered an unfairly low buyout price during the company's financial crisis
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 乘人之危 mean in English?
乘人之危 (chéng rén zhī wēi) literally translates to “Ride person's danger” and is used to express “Exploit others during their vulnerability”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 乘人之危 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving exploit others during their vulnerability.
What is the pinyin for 乘人之危?
The pinyin pronunciation for 乘人之危 is “chéng rén zhī wēi”.