尺有所短 chǐ yǒu suǒ duǎn Everything has its limitations

Explanation

比喻任何事物都有其局限性，不可能十全十美。

It means that everything has its limitations and nothing is perfect.

Origin Story

话说春秋时期，吴国有个著名的谋士叫伍子胥。他忠心耿耿，辅佐阖闾成就霸业。然而，伍子胥也有自己的弱点。他过于刚愎自用，容易得罪人，也因此树敌不少。一次，阖闾在与越国交战中不幸阵亡，伍子胥忧心如焚，他殚精竭虑，希望能够为吴国报仇雪恨。但是，他过于急切，忽略了其他因素，最终导致吴国在与越国的战争中屡战屡败。这时候，吴王夫差听信了小人谗言，对伍子胥产生了怀疑，最终将他赐死。伍子胥的故事告诉我们，每个人都有自己的长处和短处，尺有所短，寸有所长，我们应该认识到自身的局限性，扬长避短，才能更好地发挥自己的才能。

huà shuō chūn qiū shí qī, wú guó yǒu gè zhùmíng de móu shì jiào wǔ zǐ xū. tā zhōng xīn gěng gěng, fǔ zhù hé lǘ chéng jiù bà yè. rán ér, wǔ zǐ xū yě yǒu zìjǐ de ruò diǎn. tā guò yú gāng bì zì yòng, róng yì dé zuì rén, yě yīn cǐ shù dí bù shǎo. yī cì, hé lǘ zài yǔ yuè guó jiāo zhàn zhōng bù xìng zhèn wáng, wǔ zǐ xū yōu xīn rú fén, tā dān jīng jié lǜ, xī wàng néng gòu wèi wú guó bào chóu xuě hèn. dàn shì, tā guò yú jí qiē, huò lüè le qí tā yīn sú, zuì zhōng dǎo zhì wú guó zài yǔ yuè guó de zhàn zhēng zhōng lǚ zhàn lǚ bài. zhè shí hòu, wú wáng fū chā tīng xìn le xiǎo rén chán yán, duì wǔ zǐ xū chǎn shēng le huái yí, zuì zhōng jiāng tā cì sǐ. wǔ zǐ xū de gù shì gào sù wǒ men, měi gè rén dōu yǒu zìjǐ de cháng chù hé duǎn chù, chǐ yǒu suǒ duǎn, cùn yǒu suǒ cháng, wǒ men yīng gāi rèn shí dào zì shēn de jú xiàn xìng, yáng cháng bì duǎn, cái néng gèng hǎo de fā huī zìjǐ de cái néng.

During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a famous strategist in Wu named Wu Zixu. He was loyal and helped the king achieve great success. However, Wu Zixu had his own weaknesses. He was too opinionated and easily offended others, and thus made many enemies. Once, when the king was killed in battle against Yue, Wu Zixu was heartbroken. He worked tirelessly to avenge the king, but his impatience and inattention to other factors eventually led to Wu's repeated defeats. The new king, believing the false accusations of his advisors, eventually executed Wu Zixu. The story of Wu Zixu tells us that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses; We should recognize our limitations and use our strengths to avoid our weaknesses to better achieve our goals.

Usage

常用于评价事物或人的不足之处，提醒人们要客观全面地看待问题。

cháng yòng yú píng jià shì wù huò rén de bù zú zhī chù, tí xǐng rén men yào kè guān quán miàn de kàn dài wèn tí.

Often used to evaluate the shortcomings of things or people, reminding people to look at problems objectively and comprehensively.

Examples

• 人各有长处，也有短处，切不可求全责备。

  rén gè yǒu cháng chù, yě yǒu duǎn chù, qiē bù kě qiú quán zé bèi.

  Each person has strengths and weaknesses, so don't be too demanding.

• 这计划并非十全十美，尺有所短，寸有所长。

  zhè jìhuà bìng fēi shí quán shí měi, chǐ yǒu suǒ duǎn, cùn yǒu suǒ cháng

  This plan is not perfect; it has its limitations, but also its strengths.

Related Idioms

• 寸有所长

• 各有千秋

Opposite Idioms

• 完美无缺

• 尽善尽美