扬长避短

Pronunciation: yáng cháng bì duǎn Literal meaning: Promote strengths avoid weaknesses

Origin & Usage

Raising up (扬) what is long (长) and steering clear of (避) what is short (短). 长 and 短 are literally the long and the short of a thing, and Chinese uses them for strengths and weaknesses without the moral weight English puts on those words — they are measurements. That is what makes the advice practical rather than consoling: nothing is being repaired, and the deficiency is simply routed around. Career choices, team composition and competitive strategy — the standard argument against trying to be well-rounded.

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。