趁人之危 chèn rén zhī wēi to take advantage of someone's weakness

Explanation

指利用别人危难时乘机进行要挟、敲诈或陷害等不道德的行为。

To take advantage of someone's vulnerability or hardship to gain an advantage or inflict harm.

Origin Story

东汉时期，凉州刺史梁鸿的属官苏正和，秉公执法，查办了武威太守，触怒了朝廷中的权贵。梁鸿担心牵连到自己，心生歹念，想除掉苏正和，便向好友盖勋探问计策。盖勋虽然与苏正和有隙，但他认为不能趁人之危，置人于死地，这是不仁义的行为。他劝诫梁鸿说：“苏正和虽然有缺点，但身为朝廷命官，敢于直言，查办贪官污吏，反而值得称赞，你这样做是为虎作伥，是不义之举。”梁鸿听后，深感羞愧，放弃了杀害苏正和的念头。

dōng hàn shíqī, liáng zhōu cìshǐ liáng hóng de shǔguān sū zhèng hé, bǐng gōng zhífǎ, chá bàn le wǔ wēi tǎishǒu, chù nù le cháoting zhōng de quán guì. liáng hóng dānxīn qiānlián dào zìjǐ, xīn shēng dài niàn, xiǎng chú diào sū zhèng hé, biàn xiàng hǎoyǒu gài xūn tàn wèn jìcè. gài xūn suīrán yǔ sū zhèng hé yǒu xì, dàn tā rènwéi bù néng chèn rén zhī wēi, zhì rén yú sǐ dì, zhè shì bù rén yì de xíngwéi. tā quànjiè liáng hóng shuō: “sū zhèng hé suīrán yǒu quēdiǎn, dàn shēnwéi cháoting mìngguān, gǎn yú zhíyán, chá bàn tān guān wū lì, fǎn'ér zhídé chēngzàn, nǐ zhèyàng zuò shì wèi hǔ zuò chāng, shì bù yì zhī jǔ.” liáng hóng tīng hòu, shēn gǎn xiūkuì, fàngqì le shā hài sū zhèng hé de niàntou.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Su Zhenghe, an official under Liang Hong, the governor of Liangzhou, impartially enforced the law and investigated the governor of Wuwei. He angered powerful officials in the court. Liang Hong, fearing that he would be implicated, conceived a wicked plan to eliminate Su Zhenghe and asked his friend Gai Xun for advice. Though Gai Xun had differences with Su Zhenghe, he believed that one shouldn't take advantage of others' difficulties and put them to death. He advised Liang Hong, "Although Su Zhenghe has flaws, as a court official, he dares to speak his mind, and investigating corrupt officials deserves praise. Your action would be an act of injustice." Liang Hong, ashamed, abandoned the idea of killing Su Zhenghe.

Usage

常用于谴责那些卑鄙无耻、落井下石的行为。

cháng yòng yú qiǎnzé nàxiē bēibǐ wúchǐ, luò jǐng xià shí de xíngwéi.

Often used to condemn despicable and ruthless behavior.

Examples

• 他趁人之危，低价收购了那家濒临倒闭的企业。

  tā chèn rén zhī wēi, dījià shōugòu le nà jiā bīn lín dǎobì de qǐyè.

  He took advantage of others' difficulties and acquired the failing company at a low price.

• 我们不能趁人之危，落井下石。

  wǒmen bù néng chèn rén zhī wēi, luò jǐng xià shí

  We cannot take advantage of others' difficulties and add insult to injury.

Related Idioms

• 落井下石

• 趁火打劫

Opposite Idioms

• 见义勇为

• 雪中送炭