借水行舟

jièshuǐxíngzhōu

to take advantage of a situation.

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

=1 借 jiè
  1. to borrow
  2. (used in combination with 给 gěi or 出 chū etc) to lend
  3. to make use of; to avail oneself of
  4. (sometimes followed by 着 zhe) by; with
=1 借 jiè variant of 借 jiè
=2 水 Shuǐ surname Shui
=2 水 shuǐ
  1. water
  2. (after a name) ... River
  3. to swim (used mostly in 会水 huìshuǐ and 水性 shuǐxìng)
  4. (coll.) lacking in substance; shoddy
  5. (bound form) additional cost; extra income
  6. classifier for washings of a garment
=3 行 háng
  1. (bound form) row; line
  2. (bound form) line of business; trade; profession
  3. (bound form) commercial firm
  4. (bound form) to rank (first, second etc) among one's siblings (by age)
  5. (in data tables) row; (Tw) column
  6. classifier for rows or lines
=3 行 héng used in 道行 dàohéng
=3 行 xíng
  1. (bound form) to walk; to go; to travel
  2. (literary) trip; journey; visit
  3. (bound form) temporary; makeshift
  4. (bound form) current; in circulation
  5. (bound form) to do; to perform
  6. capable; competent
  7. all right; OK!; will do
  8. behavior; conduct (Taiwan pr. xìng)
  9. (literary) about to; soon
=3 行 hàng
  1. (obsolete on its own in Standard Chinese) used in 行行 (“bold; staunch; strong”)
  2. order; rank
  3. used in 樹行子／树行子 (“row of trees”)
  4. used in 行行 (“bold; staunch; strong”)
4 舟 zhōu boat