TongTong
Sign in

钻空子 (zuān kòng zi) — to exploit a loophole; to take advantage of a flaw or gap (in rules, laws, policies, etc., often with unethical intent)

Definition

钻空子 means to exploit a loophole in rules or laws for personal gain, typically with an unethical edge — distinct from 可乘之机, which names the opportunity itself rather than the act of exploiting it.

phrase
to exploit a loopholeto take advantage of a flaw or gap (in rules, laws, policies, etc., often with unethical intent)

Examples

  • 钻空子，。
    Tā lì yòng fǎ lǜ lòu dòng zuān kòng zi, zuì hòu bèi fá kuǎn le.
    He exploited a legal loophole and was eventually fined.
  • ，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī zuàn le shuì wù guī dìng de kòng zi, shǎo jiāo le hěn duō shuì.
    This company exploited a loophole in tax regulations and paid much less tax.
  • ，钻空子。
    Wǒ men yīng gāi wán shàn zhì dù, fáng zhǐ yǒu rén zuān kòng zi.
    We should improve the system to prevent people from exploiting loopholes.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

钻zuàndrill into
空子loophole
空kōnggap子zǐ
后缀Suffix

钻 suggests drilling into, 空 names a gap; together they picture slipping into a gap to exploit it.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鑽; 钻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒Written in full as金jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
贊
贊zàn鑽zuàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鑽 pairs 釒 (metal) with 贊, which gives the sound; the simplified 钻 is a later shorthand.

Open 钻 →

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
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.