Chinese word

趁着

Pronunciation

Pinyinchèn zhe

Meaning

  • prepositiontake advantage of

Example

趁着周末有空，我们去旅行吧。chèn zhe zhōu mò yǒu kòng wǒ men qù lǚ xíng ba

Let's take advantage of having free time this weekend and go on a trip.

Illustration for 趁着 (take advantage of)

More examples

趁着他不在，我把文件整理好了。chèn zhe tā bú zài wǒ bǎ wén jiàn zhéng lǐ hǎo le

While he was away, I organized the documents.

Core concept

An action is fitted into a favorable moment or circumstance before that opening passes.

Common phrases

  • 趁着周末chèn zhe zhōu mò

    take advantage of the weekend

  • 趁着机会chèn zhe jī huì

    take advantage of the opportunity

  • 趁着他不在chèn zhe tā bú zài

    while he is away

Similar words

趁chèn: Seizes a suitable time or opportunity to do something.
借着jiè zhe: Uses an event or occasion as a means of doing something.
乘着chéng zhe: Acts by making use of favorable conditions or a favorable period.

Definition in Chinese

利用某一时间或情况的机会去做某事，常与表示时间或情况的词连用。lì yòng mǒu yì shí jiān huò qíng kuàng de jī huì qù zuò mǒu shì cháng yǔ biǎo shì shí jiān huò qíng kuàng de cí lián yòng

Word origin

趁 (chèn, "seize an opportunity") combines with 着 (zhe, "in a continuing state") to focus on acting within a time or situation that is currently available.

Usage tips

  • English while can describe two events that merely overlap, but this word usually adds the idea that the time or situation is worth using for a planned action.

Other meanings

  • whilepreposition

Related words

Word lists with this word