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弱项 (ruò xiàng) — weak point, weak area, weakness

Definition

弱项 specifically means a weak area or skill in performance or ability (e.g., a subject, a task). It pairs naturally with 优势, whereas 缺点/短处/弱点 describe a personal flaw or general shortcoming.

noun
weak pointweak areaweakness

Examples

  • 弱项。
    Tā zuì dà de ruò xiàng shì quē fá nài xīn.
    His biggest weakness is a lack of patience.
  • 弱项，。
    Bié zǒng dīng zhe zì jǐ de ruò xiàng, duō fā huī yōu shì.
    Don't always focus on your weak areas; play to your strengths.
  • ，弱项。
    Jīng guò xùn liàn, tā de ruò xiàng yǐ jīng gǎi shàn le hěn duō.
    After training, her weak points have improved a lot.

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.

弱ruòweak
项xiàngitem

弱 means weak and 项 means item or area, so together they describe a weak area.

Characters in this word

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

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 彡彡shānhair, meaning "decoration" in this case

弱 pairs 弓 (bow) with 彡 (hair), showing a decorative bow that is functionally inferior, or a shaking, worn-out bow.

Open 弱 →

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 項; 项 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng項xiàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 項 combines 工 as a sound part with 頁, meaning head; the simplified 项 is a later shorthand.

Open 项 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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