取长补短 qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn

use others' strengths to make up your weak points

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 48694th word

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. use others' strengths to make up for one's weak points (idiom from Mencius)
  2. 2. to use this in place of that
  3. 3. what you lose on the swings, you win on the roundabouts

Characters

Character Meaning
取 qǔ HSK 4
to take; to get; to choose
长 cháng HSK 2
to grow; to develop; to increase
补 bǔ HSK 5
to make up for; to supplement; to repair
短 duǎn HSK 3
short; brief; to lack