趁火打劫...
chen huo da jie...
Take advantage...
Literally: Take advantage of a fire to commit a robbery
In 15 Seconds
- Exploiting someone's crisis for personal gain.
- Derived from ancient military tactics for attacking weak enemies.
- A strong negative idiom used to criticize unethical behavior.
Meaning
It describes someone who exploits a person's misfortune for their own gain. Imagine a house is on fire and instead of helping, someone runs in to steal the TV.
Key Examples
3 of 6Discussing a price hike during a storm
这家商店在台风天涨价，简直是趁火打劫！
This store raised prices during the typhoon; it's literally highway robbery!
A business meeting about a struggling competitor
我们应该保持底线，不能趁火打劫。
We should maintain our ethics and not take unfair advantage of their crisis.
Texting a friend about a bad breakup deal
他分手时还想要回所有礼物，真是趁火打劫。
He wanted all the gifts back during the breakup; talk about kicking someone when they're down.
Cultural Background
The phrase originates from the 'Thirty-Six Stratagems', a collection of ancient Chinese essays used for politics and war. It represents the 5th stratagem, emphasizing that an internal crisis is the best time to strike an opponent. Today, it is a common idiom used to criticize unethical business practices or predatory behavior.
The 'Fire' is metaphorical
The 'fire' doesn't have to be a real fire. It can be any chaos, like a stock market crash, a breakup, or even just a very busy day at work.
It's a heavy word
Calling someone this is a serious insult to their character. Don't use it on your boss unless you're planning to quit!
In 15 Seconds
- Exploiting someone's crisis for personal gain.
- Derived from ancient military tactics for attacking weak enemies.
- A strong negative idiom used to criticize unethical behavior.
What It Means
趁火打劫 (chèn huǒ dǎ jié) is about being opportunistic in the worst way. It means kicking someone while they are down. You use it when someone sees a crisis and thinks: "How can I profit from this?"
How To Use It
You can use it as a verb or a noun phrase. Usually, you say someone is 趁火打劫. It is a strong accusation. It implies the person lacks a moral compass. Don't use it for small, innocent favors. Use it when the stakes are high and the behavior is greedy.
When To Use It
Use it in business when a competitor raises prices during a shortage. Use it in friendships if someone asks for a big favor while you are grieving. It works well in political discussions too. Think of a landlord raising rent right after a local disaster. That is a classic 趁火打劫 move.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this if someone is just being smart or efficient. If your friend buys the last discounted cake, they aren't 'robbing' you. It is too heavy for lighthearted teasing unless you are being very sarcastic. Don't use it in formal praise. It is strictly a negative idiom.
Cultural Background
This phrase is one of the 'Thirty-Six Stratagems' from ancient Chinese military history. Originally, it was a literal tactic: attack an enemy while they are dealing with internal chaos. Today, it has moved from the battlefield to the boardroom and the dinner table. It reflects the high value Chinese culture places on 'righteousness' (义).
Common Variations
You might hear 落井下石 (luò jǐng xià shí), which means throwing stones at someone who fell in a well. While 趁火打劫 focuses on stealing or profit, 落井下石 is more about causing extra harm. Both are equally spicy ways to call someone a jerk.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral in register but highly negative in connotation. It can be used in both spoken and written Chinese to criticize unethical opportunism.
The 'Fire' is metaphorical
The 'fire' doesn't have to be a real fire. It can be any chaos, like a stock market crash, a breakup, or even just a very busy day at work.
It's a heavy word
Calling someone this is a serious insult to their character. Don't use it on your boss unless you're planning to quit!
The 36 Stratagems
This phrase is actually Strategy #5. In ancient times, it was considered a smart move, but in modern social life, it's considered very 'low' behavior.
Examples
6这家商店在台风天涨价，简直是趁火打劫！
This store raised prices during the typhoon; it's literally highway robbery!
Used here to criticize predatory pricing.
我们应该保持底线，不能趁火打劫。
We should maintain our ethics and not take unfair advantage of their crisis.
A professional way to set a moral boundary.
他分手时还想要回所有礼物，真是趁火打劫。
He wanted all the gifts back during the breakup; talk about kicking someone when they're down.
Informal use to describe a petty person.
我感冒了你还要我帮你写作业？你这是趁火打劫！
I have a cold and you want me to do your homework? You're totally exploiting me!
Hyperbolic and funny use between family.
骗子利用灾情趁火打劫，骗取受害者的钱财。
Scammers took advantage of the disaster to rob victims of their money.
Formal reporting of a crime.
修理工看我急着走就乱收钱，这就是趁火打劫。
The mechanic overcharged me because I was in a hurry; it was a total shakedown.
Expressing frustration at being exploited.
Test Yourself
Choose the best phrase to describe a company doubling prices during a power outage.
停电的时候超市突然涨价，这种___的行为让人愤怒。
The context involves exploiting a 'fire' (power outage) for 'robbery' (high prices).
Complete the sentence to express that you won't exploit a friend's trouble.
你现在这么难，我如果提这个要求，那就是___了。
The speaker acknowledges that making a demand while the friend is struggling would be opportunistic.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality and Intensity
Teasing friends about small favors.
Don't steal my fries while I'm crying!
Describing unfair business or social moves.
The landlord raised rent after the flood.
Legal or political accusations of exploitation.
The company was accused of predatory practices.
When to call out '趁火打劫'
Natural Disasters
Selling water for $20 a bottle.
Business Rivalry
Stealing clients during a merger.
Personal Crisis
Asking for a loan during a funeral.
Tech/Gaming
Looting a player while they are lagging.
Practice Bank
2 exercises停电的时候超市突然涨价，这种___的行为让人愤怒。
The context involves exploiting a 'fire' (power outage) for 'robbery' (high prices).
你现在这么难，我如果提这个要求，那就是___了。
The speaker acknowledges that making a demand while the friend is struggling would be opportunistic.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it can be about power, time, or emotional leverage. For example, asking for a promotion while your boss is under extreme pressure to finish a project could be seen as 趁火打劫.
Rarely. You might say it jokingly like 我是不是在趁火打劫？ (Am I taking advantage of the situation?) to show you're aware you're asking for a lot at a bad time.
You can say 你别趁火打劫 (Nǐ bié chèn huǒ dǎ jié). It's a direct way to tell someone to stop being predatory.
Literally, yes, it can mean looting during a fire. But in 99% of conversations, it's used metaphorically for opportunistic behavior.
趁火打劫 is about gaining something for yourself. 落井下石 (throwing stones at someone in a well) is just about hurting the other person further.
Not at all. It's very common in daily speech, especially when people are complaining about unfair prices or selfish behavior.
Almost never. It implies a lack of ethics. Even in a military context, it's seen as a ruthless tactic.
Younger people might just say 吃相太难看 (chīxiàng tài nánkàn), which literally means 'your eating manners are ugly,' implying you are being greedy.
Yes, if you use a sarcastic tone. Like if a friend asks for your dessert while you're crying over a movie, you can call them out with this.
It usually follows a subject. For example: 他这是趁火打劫 (What he's doing is taking advantage of the crisis).
Related Phrases
落井下石 (Kicking someone while they're down)
浑水摸鱼 (Fishing in troubled waters)
乘人之危 (Taking advantage of someone's danger)
坐收渔翁之利 (Reaping the spoils while others fight)
