をいいことに
- 1Exploiting a convenient circumstance to act selfishly or irresponsibly, typically viewed critically by the speaker.Ex. 1
- 2Less commonly, making use of a convenient circumstance for a harmless purpose, such as secretly preparing a surprise while someone is away.Ex. 3
Verb (plain form)The plain (non-ます) forms of a verb: affirmative or negative, non-past or past.
行く・行かない・行った・行かなかった
The dictionary form is only one of these: 行く.
i-adj. (plain form)The plain (non-です) forms of an i-adjective: affirmative or negative, non-past or past.
高い・高くない・高かった・高くなかった
The dictionary form is only one of these: 高い. The polite version adds です to the plain form.
na-adj. stemA na-adjective without な, i.e. the form listed in a dictionary.
静か・きれい・好き
Add な before a noun (静かな部屋); as a predicate, follow it with だ／です (静かだ).
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Used in both conversation and writing, especially in narratives, complaints, and commentary on others' behavior. The preceding element is a circumstance or someone's weakness that makes an action easy, and the following clause usually describes conduct the speaker disapproves of, such as indulging oneself or behaving as one pleases. Unlike patterns meaning 'ignoring' or 'disregarding' something, it focuses on actively making use of a situation.
Do not assume every use is neutral; in most contexts をいいことに implies the action is self-serving or blameworthy.
Note that a な形容詞 needs なの before をいいことに, as in 静かなのをいいことに, not 静かをいいことに.
Learners should not read いいこと literally as praise; the phrase means treating a situation as a convenient opening.
- 1.にかこつけてN2「にかこつけて」uses something as a pretext or excuse, with the real purpose lying elsewhere; 「をいいことに」means exploiting a ready-made favorable condition to take advantage, not making an excuse. 「にかこつけて」typically attaches only to nouns, so the two cannot be interchanged.
- 2.をよそにN1「をよそに」means ignoring the worries, opposition, or outside circumstances around you and acting as you please, and is not necessarily negative; 「をいいことに」means exploiting favorable conditions to take advantage and carries criticism. The two cannot be interchanged, and 「をよそに」leans toward written style.
- 3.もかまわずN2「もかまわず」means doing something regardless of things one ought to care about, such as others' gazes or the trouble caused to people; 「をいいことに」treats a favorable situation as an opportunity to exploit. Because the nature of what precedes them differs, they generally cannot be interchanged.
- 4.も顧みず / を顧みずN1「を顧みず／も顧みず」takes things that should be heeded—danger, opposition, health, etc.—and means knowingly disregarding them, with its connotation depending on context and a strong written flavor; 「をいいことに」takes a favorable condition and exploits it, and always carries criticism. They cannot be interchanged.
- 5.をものともせずN1「をものともせず」takes obstacles such as difficulties or opposition and means acting as if they were nothing, carrying a tone of admiration; it is written language and attaches only to nouns. 「をいいことに」takes a favorable condition and uses it to do something improper, carrying criticism. They cannot be interchanged.
にかこつけて presents something as a pretext or excuse for an action, while をいいことに takes advantage of an actual convenient situation. をよそに, もかまわず, も顧みず / を顧みず, and をものともせず describe ignoring, disregarding, or overcoming something (others' concerns, appearances, risks, hardships) rather than exploiting it, and をものともせず is generally positive.
