How to use 趁
趁 + opportunity or situation，action
趁 introduces circumstances that make an action possible or worthwhile at that moment. Its meaning combines timing with opportunity: the speaker acts while a favorable condition still holds. The condition can be a discount, someone's absence, good weather, or an available chance. This makes 趁 more purposeful than a neutral statement about when something happens.
Put the opportunity directly after 趁 and follow it with the action taken. A short adjective phrase, noun phrase, or complete clause can describe the circumstances. Longer clauses may end with 的时候. The action may already have happened or may be a suggestion; 趁 itself does not establish tense.
Examples with pinyin and English
趁打折，我买了新手机。
Taking advantage of the discount, I bought a new phone.
趁现在不忙，你快走吧。
Go now, while no one is busy.
趁这个机会，我们见个面吧。
Let's take this opportunity to meet up.
趁年轻，多去玩玩吧。
You guys should go have more fun while you're still young.
What to remember
- Name the opportunity immediately after 趁.
- Use the following clause for the action taken.
- Choose 趁 when timing offers an advantage.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.