虎視眈々(こしたんたん)

こしたんたん
adverb
watching vigilantly for a chance; lying in wait
abstractdescriptive
1. watching vigilantly for a chance; lying in wait
Watching closely and patiently for the right moment to pounce, the way a tiger eyes its prey. A four-character idiom, used adverbially with と.
虎視眈々(こしたんたん)と狙(ねら)う。
to watch vigilantly for a chance.
ライバル社(しゃ)は市場(しじょう)参入(さんにゅう)の機会(きかい)を虎視眈々(こしたんたん)とうかがっている。
Rival firms are watching vigilantly for a chance to enter the market.
彼(かれ)は社長(しゃちょう)の座(ざ)を虎視眈々(こしたんたん)と狙(ねら)い、今(いま)は静(しず)かに力(ちから)を蓄(たくわ)えている。
He is eyeing the president's seat like a tiger, quietly building up his strength for now.

A four-character idiom (四字熟語(よじじゅくご)) literally meaning 'tiger-watching intently.' It pictures a tiger silently watching its prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Almost always used with と as an adverb.

Common collocations

  • 虎視眈々(こしたんたん)と狙(ねら)う: to eye (a goal) vigilantly
  • 虎視眈々(こしたんたん)とうかがう: to watch closely for an opportunity

Usage

Often implies ambition or calculated, even predatory, intent — waiting to seize an opportunity at someone else's expense.

general
Added 2026.5.21 13:04 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
27500/27870_koshitantan