Chinese word

有利有弊

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǒu lì yǒu bì

Meaning

  • idiompros and cons

Example

每个计划有利有弊，没有完美的选择。měi gè jì huà yǒu lì yǒu bì méi yǒu wán měi de xuǎn zé

Every plan has pros and cons; there is no perfect choice.

Illustration for 有利有弊 (pros and cons)

More examples

在讨论这个有利有弊的做法时，大家提出了不同意见。zài tǎo lùn zhè ge yǒu lì yǒu bì de zuò fǎ shí dà jiā tí chū le bù tóng yì jiàn

When discussing this approach with pros and cons, everyone expressed different opinions.

Core concept

A choice carries a useful result and a harmful cost together, like two weights that must be compared before a decision.

Common phrases

  • 有利有弊的选择yǒu lì yǒu bì de xuǎn zé

    choice with pros and cons

  • 有利有弊的方案yǒu lì yǒu bì de fāng àn

    plan with pros and cons

  • 有利有弊的做法yǒu lì yǒu bì de zuò fǎ

    approach with pros and cons

Similar words

一长一短yì cháng yì duǎn: Having one strong point and one weak point.
好坏参半hǎo huài cān bàn: Having good and bad aspects in roughly equal measure.

Definition in Chinese

某事物或方案既有利的一面又有不利的一面，两者并存，需要权衡。mǒu shì wù huò fāng àn jì yǒu lì de yí miàn yòu yǒu bú lì de yí miàn liáng zhě bìng cún xū yào quán héng

Word origin

The idiom 有利有弊 (yǒulìyǒubì, "having benefits and drawbacks") repeats 有 (yǒu, "have") around 利 (lì, "benefit") and 弊 (bì, "drawback") to mark their coexistence.

Usage tips

  • For everyday speech, this idiom offers a neutral way to acknowledge complexity without sounding indecisive, especially when one choice serves some goals but creates problems for others.

Opposites

Word lists with this word