趁 (chèn) — (preposition) taking advantage of (a favorable time or condition); while a condition is still available)
Definition
趁 marks 'while a favorable condition still holds' — the window-of-time idea in 趁打折, 趁热. Unlike 乘 (more written, also 'to ride'), 趁 stays colloquial and frames seizing a passing opportunity.
preposition
taking advantage of (a favorable time or condition)while a condition is still available)
Examples
- 趁。chèn Dǎ zhé de shí hou duō mǎi diǎn dōng xī ba.Buy more things while they're on sale.
- 趁。Fàn yào chèn rè chī cái xiāng.The food tastes best when eaten while it's hot.
- 趁，。chèn Hái méi xià yǔ, wǒ men kuài huí jiā ba.Let's go home quickly before it rains.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
㐱
㐱㐱趁chèn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
趁 is built from 走, 'to run', and 㐱, which gives the sound.
Grammar
Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.