优缺点 (yōu quē diǎn) — advantages and disadvantages, pros and cons

Definition

noun
advantages and disadvantagespros and cons

Examples

  • ，优缺点。
    Zài miàn shì zhōng, miàn shì guān wèn le wǒ zì jǐ de yōu quē diǎn.
    During the interview, the interviewer asked me about my own strengths and weaknesses.
  • 优缺点，。
    Zhè ge chǎn pǐn de yōu quē diǎn hěn míng xiǎn, wǒ jiàn yì nǐ zài kǎo lǜ yí xià.
    The pros and cons of this product are very obvious; I suggest you reconsider.
  • 优缺点，。
    Měi gè rén dōu yǒu zì jǐ de yōu quē diǎn, méi yǒu shí quán shí měi de rén.
    Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses; there is no perfect person.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

优缺good and deficient
优yōuexcellent缺quēdeficient
联合Side by side
点diǎnpoint

优 and 缺 set up good and deficient aspects, and 点 names the points being considered.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 優; 优 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
憂
憂yōu優yōu
Same sound today

The traditional form 優 combines 亻 (人, person) with 憂 for the sound; the simplified 优 is a later abbreviation.

Open 优 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
缶缶fǒuearthen pot
Sound part声符shēngfú
夬
夬guài缺quē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

缺 pairs 缶, an earthen pot, with 夬, which gives the sound.

Open 缺 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →

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