钻空子

鑽空子
zuānkòngzi
phrase HSK 7-9 #36,033

Meanings

  1. 1 to exploit a loophole
  2. 2 to take advantage of a gap

Examples

Tā zǒngshì xiǎng zuānkòngzi táobì zérèn.
He always tries to exploit loopholes to avoid responsibility.
Xīn fǎlǜ dǔzhù le ràng rén zuānkòngzi de lòudòng.
The new law closed the gaps that people could exploit.

Tips

memory
(drill through) + 空子 (gap/hole) = drilling through a gap, i.e. sneaking through a loophole.
register
Colloquial expression, often used with negative connotation — someone being sneaky or opportunistic.

Stroke Order

zuān
kōng