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趁(着)…(还…),赶紧…

while (the chance lasts), hurry and…; to take the chance to

Structure
趁(着) 有利的时机(还/还没…) , 赶紧/抓紧 做某事 ; 趁机 做某事

What it means

趁 names a favourable moment that will not last, and the next clause says what to grab while it lasts: while the chance is there, hurry and…; 趁机 is to seize the chance.

How it is built

趁(着)+ the moment (often with 还 or 还没),+ 赶紧/抓紧/快 + action: 趁天还没黑,咱们赶紧把帐篷搭好 (Let’s get the tent up quickly while it is still light).

When to use it

Extends short 趁热吃 (lesson 1-11) to longer clauses; 趁着 sounds fuller before long phrases. 趁机 (seize the chance) is often critical: 趁机涨价, 趁机偷懒; the written 乘机 means the same.

Watch out

Not for a bad situation you are stuck in: ✗趁着下大雨,我们只好待在帐篷里 ✓因为下大雨,我们只好待在帐篷里. Not for a gradual change either; that is 随着.

Examples

趁着周末天气好,约上朋友去郊外露营吧。
While the weekend weather is good, get some friends together and go camping out of town.
趁天还没黑,咱们赶紧把帐篷搭好。
Let’s get the tent up quickly while it is still light.
假期一到,有的营地就趁机涨价,一晚比平时贵了一倍。
As soon as the holiday comes, some campsites seize the chance to raise their prices, charging double for a night.
Learn this in Lesson 144 · HSK 7–9: 露营热 (The outdoor boom)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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