扬长避短
yáng cháng bì duǎn
to make the most of your strengths and avoid your weaknesses
Character by character
扬yáng
raise
raise
长cháng
strength
strength
避bì
avoid
avoid
短duǎn
weakness
weakness
Example
他口才一般，但文笔很好，于是扬长避短，选择了写作这条路。
He is no great speaker, but he writes well, so he played to his strengths and chose to be a writer.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
A favourite of planning and advice: 因地制宜、扬长避短. Compare 取长补短 (lesson 3-6): that is learning from others to make up for your own weak points; 扬长避短 is playing to your own strong points.
Learn this in Lesson 177 · HSK 7–9: 一度电的旅程 (The journey of a kilowatt-hour)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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