Seize the moment – 趁 chèn

Grammar Point:
趁 chèn is a preposition or verb meaning to take advantage of a time or situation—to do something while conditions are right or before they change.
This usage does not translate naturally into English word-for-word and is usually better understood by its function rather than a direct equivalent.

Structure

趁 chèn + condition / situation / opportunity + V

The 趁 chèn phrase can be put either at the beginning of the sentence or before the main verb.

趁chèn他tā不bú在zài， 我們wǒmen快點kuàidiǎn做zuò完wán趁chèn他tā不bú在zài， 我们wǒmen快点kuàidiǎn做zuò完wán
Let’s finish it while he’s not here.

趁chèn天tiān還沒háiméi黑hēi回家huíjiā吧ba趁chèn天tiān还没háiméi黑hēi回家huíjiā吧ba
Go home before it gets dark.

趁chèn年輕niánqīng時shí， 你nǐ應該yīnggāi多duō嘗試chángshì各種gezhǒng新xīn事物shìwù趁chèn年轻niánqīng时shí， 你nǐ应该yīnggāi多duō尝试chángshì各种gezhǒng新xīn事物shìwù
While you are young, you should (seize the opportunity to) try more new things.

李lǐ先生xiānshēng趁chèn下班xiàbān回家huíjiā的de路上lùshàng到dào超市chāoshì買mǎi了le幾jǐ罐guàn啤酒píjiǔ李lǐ先生xiānsheng趁chèn下班xiàbān回家huíjiā的de路上lùshang到dào超市chāoshì买mǎi了le几jī罐guàn啤酒píjiǔ
Mr. Lee bought a few cans of beer from the supermarket on his way home from work.

湯tāng要yào趁chèn熱rè喝hē， 冷lěng了le就jiù不bù好喝hǎohē了le汤tāng要yào趁chèn热rè喝hē， 冷lěng了le就jiù不bù好喝hǎohē了le
Drink the soup while it’s hot; it won’t taste good once it gets cold.

這個zhège消息xiāoxí剛gāng出來chūlái， 你nǐ可以kěyǐ趁熱chènrè多duō宣傳xuānchái一下yíxià这个zhège消息xiāoxi刚gāng出来chūlái， 你nǐ可以kěyǐ趁热chènrè多duō宣传xuānchái一下yíxià
The news just came out, so you can promote it while it’s still fresh.

我wǒ想xiǎng趁chèn暑假shǔjià去qù台灣Táiwān學xué中文zhōngwén我wǒ想xiǎng趁chèn暑假shǔjià去qù台湾Táiwān学xué中文zhōngwén
I want to study Chinese in Taiwan (and I should take the opportunity) during the summer.

事情shìqíng已經yǐjīng這樣zhèyàng了le， 還是háishì趁早chènzǎo想xiǎng辦法bànfǎ吧ba事情shìqing已经yǐjīng这样zhèyàng了le， 还是háishì趁早chènzǎo想xiǎng办法bànfǎ吧ba
Since things have come to this, it’s better to think of a solution as early as possible.

你nǐ應該yīnggāi趁chèn他tā還沒háiméi回國huíguó前qián跟gēn他tā說shuō你nǐ喜歡xǐhuān他tā， 現在xiànzài太tài晚wǎn了le你nǐ应该yīnggāi趁chèn他tā还没háiméi回国huíguó前qián跟gēn他tā说shuō你nǐ喜欢xǐhuan他tā， 现在xiànzài太tài晚wǎn了le
You should have told him you liked him before he went back to his country. Now it’s too late!

趁 chèn VS 當当 dāng

Word	Meaning	Feeling
趁 chèn	take advantage of	urgency, don’t miss it
當当 dāng	when / during	neutral, descriptive

趁chèn他tā睡覺shuìjiào時shí走zǒu趁chèn他tā睡觉shuìjiào时shí走zǒu
(quietly, before he wakes up)

當dāng他tā睡覺shuìjiào時shí， 我wǒ在zài看書kànshū当dāng他tā睡觉shuìjiào时shí， 我wǒ在zài看书kànshū
(just describing time)

A Song Named 趁 chèn

Lyrics from the song

趁chèn我wǒ還有háiyǒu這zhè份fèn衝動chōngdòng趁chèn我wǒ还有háiyǒu这zhè份fèn冲动chōngdòng
While I still have the impulse.

趁chèn我wǒ還沒有háiméiyǒu爛透làntòu趁chèn我wǒ还没有háiméiyǒu烂透làntòu
Before I get worse.

趁chèn我wǒ還hái沒有méiyǒu放過fàngguò我wǒ自己zìjǐ趁chèn我wǒ还hái没有méiyǒu放过fàngguò我wǒ自己zìjǐ
Before I give up myself.