xiàng​shí'ér​dòng

to bide one's time

  1. to appraise
    (literary) to look at and appraise; to judge based on appearance; to read a person's fortune through physiognomy or palmistry
  2. shí nounadverb
    opportunity
    (bound form) opportunity; chance; a favorable timing
  3. ér particleconjunction
    [adverbial linker]
    Connects an adverb-like description to the following verb to show the manner, cause, or basis of an action.
  4. to act
    To take action; to start doing something or get moving.