Chinese word

扬长避短

Pronunciation

Pinyinyáng cháng bì duǎn

Meaning

  • idiomplay to one's strengths

Example

老师建议我们要学会扬长避短。lǎo shī jiàn yì wǒ men yào xué huì yáng cháng bì duǎn

The teacher advised us to learn to play to our strengths.

Illustration for 扬长避短 (play to one's strengths)

More examples

面试中，要注意扬长避短，把自己的优势说清楚。miàn shì zhōng yào zhù yì yáng cháng bì duǎn bǎ zì jǐ de yōu shì shuō qīng chǔ

In an interview, remember to play to your strengths and clearly explain them.

Core concept

Put strong abilities in the foreground so weaker ones do not determine the outcome.

Common phrases

  • 要学会扬长避短yào xué huì yáng cháng bì duǎn

    learn to play to one's strengths

  • 在面试中扬长避短zài miàn shì zhōng yáng cháng bì duǎn

    play to one's strengths in an interview

Similar words

取长补短qǔ cháng bú duǎn: Uses other people's strengths to fill gaps in one's own abilities.

Definition in Chinese

把自己的长处发挥出来，同时避免短处影响自己的表现。bǎ zì jǐ de cháng chù fā huī chū lái tóng shí bì miǎn duǎn chù yíng xiǎng zì jǐ de biǎo xiàn

Word origin

扬 (yáng, "promote") + 长 (cháng, "strength") and 避 (bì, "avoid") + 短 (duǎn, "weakness") form a balanced contrast between showing what works well and limiting what does not.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may associate this idea mainly with sports or teamwork, but Chinese also uses the idiom for study choices, presentations, and ordinary tasks.

Other meanings

  • use strengths and avoid flawsidiom

Word lists with this word