を良い事に
To take advantage of
Structure
Noun + （なの）+ をいいことに（して）
［い］Adjective + の + をいいことに（して）
［な］Adjective + なの + をいいことに（して）
Explanation
を良いことに is a Japanese phrase used to express that someone is exploiting a situation (A) for their own benefit, often in a way that is wrong or selfish. It can be translated as 'to take advantage of (A)'. This grammar pattern is formed by the particle を, the い-Adjective 良い ('good'), the noun こと ('thing/fact'), and the particle に. A more direct translation would be 'making a good thing of (A), (B)', but the negative nuance of unfairly capitalizing on a situation is always present.
This grammar point can follow various parts of speech, including verbs, nouns, and both types of adjectives. Regardless of what it follows, it will always be attached using either の or なの, following standard Japanese rules for modifying nouns with の.
- 親がいないのを良いことに、夜遅くまでテレビを見ていた。Taking advantage of my parents not being home, I stayed up late watching TV.
- この店が安いのを良いことに、必要ない物までたくさん買ってしまった。Taking advantage of this store being so cheap, I ended up buying a bunch of stuff I don't even need.
- 自分が丈夫なのを良いことに、彼はまったく休まずに働き続けた。Taking advantage of his robust health, he kept working without taking any breaks at all.
- お正月休みなのを良いことに、毎日ゴロゴロして過ごした。Taking advantage of the New Year's holiday, I spent every day just lazing around.
The form を良いことにして is frequently used as well. Adding して does not alter the meaning or the nuance of the expression.
- 部長が留守なのをいいことにして、皆さぼっていた。Taking advantage of the department head being out, everyone was slacking off.
Examples
兄がぐっすり眠っているのを良い事に、彼のプリンを食べてしまった。
Taking advantage of my older brother sleeping soundly, I went and ate his pudding.
両親が優しいのを良い事に、門限をいつも破っている。
Taking advantage of my parents being lenient, I always break my curfew.
部長の出張を良い事に、社員たちは仕事をさぼって雑談していた。
Taking advantage of the department head's business trip, the employees were slacking off and chatting.
この辺りが安全なのを良い事に、夜でも鍵をかけずに出かける人がいる。
Taking advantage of this area being safe, some people go out at night without even locking their doors.
観光客が外国人なのを良い事に、店主は不当に高い値段を請求した。
Taking advantage of the tourist being a foreigner, the shopkeeper charged an unfairly high price.
監視カメラが壊れたのを良い事に、彼は店の品物を盗んだ。
Taking advantage of the fact that the security camera was broken, he stole items from the store.
公園が暗いのを良い事に、若者たちが夜遅くまで騒いでいる。
Taking advantage of the park being dark, young people are making a racket until late at night.
親の不注意を良い事に、子供はこっそりお菓子を棚から取った。
Taking advantage of his parent's inattention, the child secretly took a snack from the shelf.
彼は末っ子なのを良い事に、いつも姉に面倒なことを押し付ける。
He takes advantage of being the youngest child and always pushes troublesome tasks onto his older sister.
アナウンス：「現在、システムはメンテナンス中です。」それを良い事に、彼は早く退社した。
Announcement: 'The system is currently down for maintenance.' Taking advantage of that, he left work early.
家から会社が近くて便利なのを良い事に、彼はいつもギリギリに出勤する。
Taking advantage of the convenience of his house being close to the office, he always shows up to work at the very last minute.
誰も見ていないのを良い事に、信号を無視して道を渡った。
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was looking, I crossed the street against the light.