趁热打铁

趁熱打鐵
chènrè-dǎtiě
idiom #29,285

Meanings

  1. 1 to strike while the iron is hot
  2. 2 to seize the moment; to act quickly while conditions are favorable

Examples

HSK 2
Xué dào xīn zhīshi yào chènrè-dǎtiě, mǎshàng liànxí.
When you learn something new, strike while the iron is hot - practice right away.
HSK 7-9
Kèhù yǒu yìxiàng le, wǒmen yào chènrè-dǎtiě, jǐnkuài qiān hétong.
The client is interested - we need to strike while the iron is hot and sign the contract quickly.

Tips

memory
(to take advantage of) + (hot) + (to strike/beat) + (iron). A blacksmith must hammer iron while it's still red-hot - once it cools, it becomes rigid and unworkable. This directly matches the English idiom 'strike while the iron is hot.'

Stroke Order

chèn
tiě