可乘之機

可乘之机
kěchéngzhījī
(idiom) an opportunity that someone (usually a villain or adversary) can exploit

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 可 kě
  1. (prefix) can; may; able to; -able
  2. to approve; to permit
  3. to suit
  4. (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very
  5. but; however
=2 乘 chéng
  1. to ride
  2. to mount
  3. to make use of
  4. to avail oneself of
  5. to take advantage of
  6. to multiply (math.)
  7. Buddhist sect or creed
=2 乘 chéng old variant of 乘 chéng
3 之 zhī
  1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 de)
  2. him
  3. her
  4. it
4 機 jī
  1. (bound form) machine; mechanism
  2. (bound form) aircraft
  3. (bound form) an opportunity
  4. (bound form) crucial point; pivot
  5. (bound form) quick-witted; flexible
  6. (bound form) organic