乘人之危

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: chéng rén zhī wēi
• English Translation: To take advantage of someone's precarious situation (to kick someone when they are down)
• Idiom Composition: 「乘」（To take advantage of, or to ride upon (an opportunity).）＋「人」（Others, or another person (specifically one in distress).）＋「之」（A possessive particle, similar to 'of' or 's'.）＋「危」（Danger, crisis, or a precarious state.）
• Meaning: To exploit someone's difficulties, crisis, or vulnerability for personal gain or to cause them harm. It is a derogatory term used to describe morally despicable opportunism.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「乘人之危」 contains the following nuances:

• Despicable Opportunism: The core nuance is not just seizing a generic opportunity, but specifically targeting a state where the other person is 'unable to resist' or 'weakened,' making the act cowardly.
• Moral Condemnation: This act is considered the antithesis of 仁 (rén), or benevolence. In Chinese culture, engaging in 乘人之危 (chéng rén zhī wēi) is seen as a fatal character flaw that destroys one's social and professional reputation.

3. Usage

「乘人之危」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Business and Negotiation: Used to criticize actions like predatory acquisitions or forcing unfair terms when a partner is facing financial ruin or internal trouble.
  • Example:「由于急需资金周转，他不得不接受了对方乘人之危提出的苛刻条件。」
    （Due to an urgent need for cash flow, he had no choice but to accept the harsh conditions the other party offered by taking advantage of his crisis.）
• Interpersonal Ethics: Used to condemn individuals who, instead of helping a friend in need, use that person's vulnerability to blackmail or profit from them.
  • Example:「真正的朋友会雪中送炭，绝不会乘人之危。」
    （A true friend will provide timely help and will never take advantage of your vulnerability.）
• Warnings and Lessons: Used as a moral admonition that one should not engage in such despicable behavior for the sake of profit.
  • Example:「做生意要讲诚信，不能为了赚钱就乘人之危。」
    （Integrity is the priority in business; one should not exploit others' misfortunes just to make money.）

Additional Examples:

1. 他在对手受伤时发起猛攻，被观众指责是乘人之危。
   （He launched a fierce attack while his opponent was injured, leading the audience to accuse him of taking advantage of a precarious situation.）
2. 这种乘人之危的做法，迟早会让你失去所有的合作伙伴。
   （With such a predatory approach, you will eventually lose all your business partners.）
3. 虽然我们是竞争对手，但我不想乘人之危，等你解决了内部问题我们再公平竞争。
   （Although we are rivals, I don't want to kick you while you're down. Let's compete fairly after you've resolved your internal issues.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origin: This idiom originates from the biography of Gai Xun (盖勋) in the *Book of the Later Han* (后汉书). It comes from the line: 'To plot to kill the good is not loyalty; to take advantage of someone's danger (乘人之危) is not benevolence.' Gai Xun used this to stop his allies from attacking a rebel force that was currently weakened by internal strife.
• Modern Context: It remains a very strong negative term. While similar to 趁火打劫 (chèn huǒ dǎ jié), which literally means 'looting a burning house,' 乘人之危 (chéng rén zhī wēi) is broader, covering any vulnerability such as illness, bankruptcy, or emotional distress.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 落井下石 (luò jǐng xià shí): To throw stones at someone who has fallen into a well; to deal a blow to someone already in trouble.
  • 趁火打劫 (chèn huǒ dǎ jié): To loot a house while it is on fire; to profit from another's disaster or chaos.
  • 投机取巧 (tóu jī qǔ qiǎo): To seize an opportunity for one's own advantage, often by clever but unethical means.link
  • 不择手段 (bù zé shǒu duàn): To achieve a goal by any means necessary, regardless of morality or legality.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 雪中送炭 (xuě zhōng sòng tàn): To send charcoal in the snow; to provide help exactly when someone needs it most.
  • 成人之美 (chéng rén zhī měi): To help others achieve their goals or fulfill their good intentions.
  • 见义勇为 (jiàn yì yǒng wéi): To do what is right when seeing an injustice.link
  • 大公无私 (dà gōng wú sī): To be completely fair and unselfish.link

6. Summary

The idiom 乘人之危 (chéng rén zhī wēi) refers to the act of preying on others when they are at their weakest. In both professional and personal contexts, it is used to criticize 'predatory' behavior that lacks the fundamental Chinese virtue of 仁 (rén), or humaneness.