趁虚而入

趁虛而入

chènxū'érrù

idiom

Meanings

HSK 5

竞争对手趁虚而入，抢走了我们的市场。

Jìngzhēng duìshǒu chènxū'érrù, qiǎngzǒu le wǒmen de shìchǎng.

Competitors exploited our weakness and took our market share.

HSK 7-9

敌人趁虚而入，攻占了城池。

Dírén chènxū'érrù, gōngzhàn le chéngchí.

The enemy seized on the weakness and captured the city.

HSK 7-9

身体虚弱时，病毒容易趁虚而入。

Shēntǐ xūruò shí, bìngdú róngyì chènxū'érrù.

When the body is weak, viruses easily take advantage.

history

From the Daoist text 《云笈七签》. Military in origin, now used broadly - of illness, competitors, rumors, anything that exploits a moment of weakness.

usage

Compare with 乘虚而入 - same meaning, slightly more literary. Both are in common use.

趁 chèn

虚 xū

而 ér

入 rù