乘人之危 chéng rén zhī wēi take advantage of someone's weakness

Explanation

乘人之危，是指趁着别人处在危难之中，去威胁损害别人。它是一种不道德的行为，会让人失去信任和尊重。

To take advantage of someone's weakness means to exploit their vulnerable state to threaten or harm them. It is an unethical act that leads to loss of trust and respect.

Origin Story

东汉时期，凉州刺史梁鸿的属官苏正和不畏强权，依法查办武威太守。梁鸿担心会牵连朝廷高官，想杀了苏正和灭口，就找好友盖勋商量对策。盖勋虽然和苏正和是死对头，但他还是认为不能趁别人危难时候去害别人，这是不仁的表现。最终，盖勋力排众议，保全了苏正和的性命，维护了正义。这个故事告诉我们，无论遇到什么情况，都不能乘人之危，要以仁义之心待人。

dōng hàn shí qī, liáng zhōu cì shǐ liáng hóng de shǔ guān sū zhèng hé bù wèi qiáng quán, yī fǎ chá bàn wǔ wēi tài shǒu. liáng hóng dān xīn huì qiān lián cháo tíng gāo guān, xiǎng shā le sū zhèng hé miè kǒu, jiù zhǎo hǎo yǒu gài xūn shāng liáng duì cè. gài xūn suī rán hé sū zhèng hé shì sǐ duì tóu, dàn tā hái shì rèn wéi bù néng chèn bié rén wēi nán shí hou qù hài bié rén, zhè shì bù rén de biǎo xiàn. zuì zhōng, gài xūn lì pái zhòng yì, bǎo quán le sū zhèng hé de xìng mìng, wéi hù le zhèng yì. zhè ge gù shì gào sù wǒ men, wú lùn yù dào shén me qíng kuàng, dōu bù néng chéng rén zhī wēi, yào yǐ rén yì zhī xīn dài rén.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Su Zhenghe, an official under the governor of Liangzhou, Liang Hong, was fearless in the face of power and investigated the prefect of Wuwei according to the law. Liang Hong was worried that this would implicate high-ranking officials at the court and wanted to kill Su Zhenghe to silence him. He consulted his friend Gai Xun for advice. Although Gai Xun was a bitter enemy of Su Zhenghe, he still believed that one should not take advantage of another's plight to harm them, as this is immoral. Ultimately, Gai Xun prevailed against the general opinion, saved Su Zhenghe's life and protected justice. This story teaches us that regardless of the situation, we should not take advantage of others' weakness, but treat them with human kindness and righteousness.

Usage

这个成语用来批评那些在别人遇到困难的时候，趁机损害别人利益的人。在日常生活中，我们应该尽量避免乘人之危，要以善良和诚信待人。

zhè ge chéng yǔ yòng lái pī píng nà xiē zài bié rén yù dào kùn nan de shí hou, chèn jī sǔn hài bié rén lì yì de rén. zài rì cháng shēng huó zhōng, wǒ men yīng gāi jǐn liàng bì miǎn chéng rén zhī wēi, yào yǐ shàn liáng hé chéng xìn dài rén.

This idiom is used to criticize those who take advantage of others' difficulties to harm their interests. In everyday life, we should try to avoid taking advantage of others and treat them with kindness and integrity.

Examples

• 在困难的时候，我们不应该乘人之危，而是应该伸出援助之手。

  zài kùn nan de shí hou, wǒ men bù yīng gāi chéng rén zhī wēi, ér shì yīng gāi shēn chū yuán zhù zhī shǒu.

  We should not take advantage of others when they are in trouble, but instead lend a helping hand.

• 在谈判中，不要乘人之危，要以诚相待。

  zài tán pán zhōng, bù yào chéng rén zhī wēi, yào yǐ chéng xiāng dài.

  In negotiations, we should not take advantage of others, but treat them with sincerity.

Related Idioms

• 落井下石

• 乘虚而入

Opposite Idioms

• 雪中送炭

• 济困扶危