扬长避短
扬长避短 (yáng cháng bì duǎn) literally means “promote strengths avoid weaknesses” and expresses “play to one's strengths”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving strategy and action.
Also searched as: yang chang bi duan, yang chang bi duan,扬长避短 meaning, 扬长避短 in english
Play to one's strengths
Pronunciation: yáng cháng bì duǎn Literal meaning: Promote strengths avoid weaknesses
Origin & Usage
This idiom advises promoting (扬) one's strengths (长) while avoiding (避) weaknesses (短). The phrase embodies practical wisdom about focusing on advantages rather than obsessing over deficiencies. It appeared in texts on governance and military strategy, advising leaders to deploy resources strategically. The concept aligns with both competitive strategy and personal development. Modern usage emphasizes practical self-awareness in career planning, team management, and strategic positioning.
Examples
English: "Good management means leveraging everyone's strengths while minimizing weaknesses."
Chinese: 好的管理意味着扬长避短，发挥每个人的优势。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about strategy & action
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胸有成竹
xiōng yǒu chéng zhú
Have clear plan beforehand
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步步为营
bù bù wéi yíng
Advance methodically with caution
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退避三舍
tuì bì sān shè
Make concessions to avoid conflict
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旁敲侧击
páng qiāo cè jī
Approach indirectly to achieve goal
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暗度陈仓
àn dù chén cāng
Achieve secretly through misdirection
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釜底抽薪
fǔ dǐ chōu xīn
Eliminate root cause of problem
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指鹿为马
zhǐ lù wéi mǎ
Deliberately distort truth as power display
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 扬长避短 mean in English?
扬长避短 (yáng cháng bì duǎn) literally translates to “Promote strengths avoid weaknesses” and is used to express “Play to one's strengths”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Strategy & Action category.
When is 扬长避短 used?
Situation: Good management means leveraging everyone's strengths while minimizing weaknesses.
What is the pinyin for 扬长避短?
The pinyin pronunciation for 扬长避短 is “yáng cháng bì duǎn”.