借机 (jiè jī) — taking the opportunity (to do something); using the occasion

Definition

Means 'seizing/taking the opportunity' to do something, often with a slightly opportunistic or hidden motive. Functions as an adverb placed before the verb, more specific than just 趁机.

adverb
taking the opportunity (to do something)using the occasion

Examples

  • 借机。
    Tā jiè jī lí kāi le huì yì.
    He took the opportunity to leave the meeting.
  • 借机。
    Tā jiè jī xiàng lǎo bǎn tí chū le jiā xīn de yāo qiú.
    She seized the opportunity to ask the boss for a raise.
  • 借机。
    Yì xiē bù fǎ fèn zǐ jiè jī hōng tái wù jià.
    Some lawbreakers took the opportunity to drive up prices.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

借jièborrow
机jīopportunity

借 means to borrow or seize, and 机 means opportunity; together they mean taking an opportunity.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
昔
昔xī借jiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

借 combines 人, a person, with 昔, which shows the sound.

Open 借 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree; wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
几
几jǐ机jī
Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Open 机 →

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