趁火打劫
趁火打劫 (chèn huǒ dǎ jié) literally means “take advantage of fire to rob” and expresses “exploit vulnerability”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: chen huo da jie, chen huo da jie,趁火打劫 meaning, 趁火打劫 in english
Exploit vulnerability
Pronunciation: chèn huǒ dǎ jié Literal meaning: Take advantage of fire to rob
Origin & Usage
The fifth of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, and among the bluntest: when the enemy is in serious trouble, that is the moment to take from him. Take advantage of (趁) the fire (火) to loot (打劫). Unlike most of the stratagems it has not stayed inside its military frame at all, and in ordinary Chinese it is a straightforward moral condemnation — the supplier who raises prices during a shortage, the rival who briefs against a colleague during their illness. Nobody uses it approvingly.
Examples
English: "Taking advantage of the chaos, he seized the opportunity to profit."
Chinese: 趁火打劫，他在混乱中获利。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
稳扎稳打
wěn zhā wěn dǎ
Proceed steadily; consolidate before advancing
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打草惊蛇
dǎ cǎo jīng shé
Alert the enemy
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一网打尽
yī wǎng dǎ jìn
Round up every last one in a single sweep
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鸡飞蛋打
jī fēi dàn dǎ
To lose everything; complete failure
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精打细算
jīng dǎ xì suàn
Calculate carefully; be frugal and precise
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火中取栗
huǒ zhōng qǔ lì
Used by others
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抱薪救火
bào xīn jiù huǒ
Make situation worse
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引火烧身
yǐn huǒ shāo shēn
Bring trouble upon oneself
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 趁火打劫 mean in English?
趁火打劫 (chèn huǒ dǎ jié) literally translates to “Take advantage of fire to rob” and is used to express “Exploit vulnerability”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 趁火打劫 used?
Situation: Taking advantage of the chaos, he seized the opportunity to profit.
What is the pinyin for 趁火打劫?
The pinyin pronunciation for 趁火打劫 is “chèn huǒ dǎ jié”.