Dictionary › 尺有所短，寸有所长

尺有所短，寸有所长

chǐ yǒu suǒ duǎn , cùn yǒu suǒ cháng

9-character word Traditional 尺有所短，寸有所長

What 尺有所短，寸有所长 means

1. lit. for some things a foot may be too short, and for the other an inch will suffice (proverb)
2. fig. everyone has their strong and weak points
3. everything has its advantages and disadvantages

The characters in 尺有所短，寸有所长

• 尺chǐa Chinese foot; one-third of a meter; a ruler
• 有yǒuto have; there is; (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意
• 所suǒactually; place; classifier for houses, small buildings, institutions etc
• 短duǎnshort; brief; to lack
• 寸cùna unit of length; inch; thumb
• 有yǒuto have; there is; (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意
• 所suǒactually; place; classifier for houses, small buildings, institutions etc
• 长chánglong; (bound form) length; (bound form) strong point; forte