取长补短 (qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn) — to draw on others' strong points to offset one's weaknesses; to learn from each other's strengths

Definition

A chengyu meaning to leverage each person's strengths to make up for their weaknesses, often in teamwork or learning. It pairs naturally with verbs like 学习 or 互相.

idiom
to draw on others' strong points to offset one's weaknessesto learn from each other's strengths

Examples

  • ，取长补短，。
    Zài gōng zuò zhōng, wǒ men yào xué huì qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn, gòng tóng jìn bù.
    At work, we should learn to learn from each other's strengths and make progress together.
  • ，取长补短。
    Měi gè tuán duì dōu yǒu bù tóng de rén cái, zhòng yào de shì néng gòu qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn.
    Every team has different talents; the important thing is to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses.
  • ，取长补短，。
    Tā men hù xiāng xué xí, qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn, hěn kuài jiù tí gāo le jì néng.
    They learned from each other, offsetting weaknesses with strengths, and soon improved their skills.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

取 pairs 又 (hand) with 耳 (ear), showing a hand taking an ear, as in taking the ear of fallen prey.

Open 取 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

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 補; 补 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
甫
甫fǔ補bǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 補 shows 衤 (clothes) beside 甫, which gives the sound; the simplified 补 is a later shorthand, so its shape is not the historical breakdown.

Open 补 →

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
矢矢shǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu短duǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

短 is built from 矢 and 豆. 豆 is used for its sound, while 矢 is the component linked to the meaning.

Open 短 →

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