📖 Meaning
To exploit an opening and strike at a vulnerable point. This idiom describes a tactical approach of identifying and attacking an opponent's weak spot rather than confronting their strength head-on. It is commonly used in military, competitive, and strategic contexts.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Jin dynasty writer Wang Ruoxu (王若虚) in his preface 'Sending Off Wang Shiheng to the Examination' (《送王士衡赴举序》). In the original passage, Wang Ruoxu warns that if one fails to seize openings and strike at the enemy's weak points, even one's own flaws will become fully exposed, and the balance of victory and defeat becomes unpredictable. The phrase reflects classical Chinese military thinking that emphasizes exploiting gaps in an opponent's defenses rather than engaging in direct confrontation.
💡 Example Usage
敌军阵脚未稳，我军乘隙捣虚，大获全胜。
The enemy's formation was not yet stable, so our troops exploited the opening and struck at their weak point, winning a decisive victory.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 乘隙捣虚
- Pinyin: chéng xì dǎo xū
- Literal Translation: seize gap, attack weakness
- Category: Method
- Characters: 4