借…的东风
to ride the momentum of; to take advantage of (a favourable event or trend)
Structure
借（着） 有利的事件／形势 的东风 ， 结果
What it means
To ride the momentum of a big favourable event or policy. 东风 is the spring east wind that, in the novel, Zhuge Liang “borrows” at the Red Cliffs (lesson 4-15) to carry the fire to Cao Cao’s fleet.
How it is built
借（着）+ favourable event／trend + 的东风，+ result: 借冬奥的东风，滑雪场在全国越开越多 (Riding the momentum of the Winter Olympics, ski resorts have multiplied across the country).
When to use it
News and business writing; headlines often drop 的 (借冬奥东风), and 乘…的东风 is more formal. 趁 (lesson 7-17) grabs a moment while it lasts; 借…的东风 uses the push of something bigger than you.
Watch out
东风 is always a blessing, so never for a bad event: ✗借台风的东风. Related saying: 万事俱备，只欠东风, all is ready but the one thing that matters.
Examples
借冬奥的东风，滑雪场在全国越开越多。
Riding the momentum of the Winter Olympics, ski resorts have multiplied across the country.
借着电视剧热播的东风，这座小城的游客一下子多了好几倍。
Riding on the success of a hit TV series, the little town suddenly had several times as many visitors.
不少企业想借政策的东风转型，可真正成功的并不多。
Many firms hope to use the push from the new policy to change course, but few really succeed.
Learn this in Lesson 147 · HSK 7–9: 冬奥之后的冰雪 (Ice and snow after the Winter Olympics)
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.
Open the lesson →