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短处 (duǎn chù) — shortcoming, weak point, defect

Definition

短处 means 'shortcoming, weak point' in a person, often paired with 长处 ('strength'). It's close to 缺点 and 弱点; 缺点 is the most common everyday word, 弱点 emphasizes vulnerability.

noun
shortcomingweak pointdefect

Examples

  • 短处。
    Chéng rèn zì jǐ de duǎn chù xū yào yǒng qì.
    Admitting one's own shortcomings takes courage.
  • 短处。
    Měi gè rén dōu yǒu duǎn chù hé cháng chù.
    Everyone has both weaknesses and strengths.
  • 短处。
    Tā de zuì dà duǎn chù shì quē fá nài xīn.
    His biggest shortcoming is lack of patience.

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.

短duǎndeficient
处chùpoint

'短' deficient, '处' point; together: a weak point.

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.

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 →

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 處; 处 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
夂夂zhǐ
几几jǐtable
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū處chǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 處 pairs 虍, giving the sound, with 夂 and 几, a table, as meaning parts. The simplified 处 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 处 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.