浑水摸鱼
hún shuǐ mō yú
to fish in troubled waters; to take advantage of confusion
Character by character
浑hún
muddy
muddy
水shuǐ
water
water
摸mō
grope for
grope for
鱼yú
fish
fish
Example
市场一乱，就有人浑水摸鱼，卖起了假货。
The moment the market was in chaos, some people seized the chance to sell fakes.
Tone: negative (criticism).
Usage and origin
One of the Thirty-Six Stratagems (三十六计), often written 混水摸鱼. Also used of shirkers who hide in a crowd: 开会的时候别想浑水摸鱼.
Learn this in Lesson 146 · HSK 7–9: 马拉松热 (Marathon fever)
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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