TongTong
Sign in

空子 (kòng zi) — loophole, gap (in a system, rule, or schedule) that can be exploited

Definition

空子 (kòngzi) is a gap or loophole that can be exploited — either in a schedule/opening (e.g. a break in a meeting) or, more negatively, in a rule or system (钻空子 = to exploit a loophole).

noun
loopholegap (in a system, rule, or schedule) that can be exploited

Examples

  • 。
    Tā zǒng xiǎng zuān kòng zi zhàn pián yi.
    He's always looking to exploit loopholes for personal gain.
  • 空子。
    Fǎ lǜ shàng méi yǒu shén me kòng zi kě zuàn.
    There are no loopholes to exploit in the law.
  • 空子，。
    Chèn zhe huì yì zhōng jiān de kòng zi, wǒ chū qù dǎ le bēi kā fēi.
    Taking advantage of a gap in the meeting, I went out to get a cup of coffee.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

空kōnggap
子zǐnominalizing suffix

空 gives the sense of a gap, and 子 rounds out the form; together they mean an exploitable opening.

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
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
Abstract Concepts

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