ChinesePod

1 lit. use others' strengths to make up for one's weak points (idiom from Mencius)
2 to use this in place of that
3 what you lose on the swings, you win on the roundabouts

吃人家的嘴软，拿人家的手短

chī rén jiā de zuǐ ruǎn , ná rén jiā de shǒu duǎn

1 lit. the mouth that has been fed by others is soft, the hand that has received doesn't reach (idiom)
2 fig. one is partial to those from whom presents have been accepted

张家长，李家短

Zhāng jiā cháng , Lǐ jiā duǎn

1 lit. the Zhangs are better off than the Lis (idiom); to gossip about the neighbors

截长补短

jié cháng bǔ duǎn

1 take from the long to supplement the short (idiom)
2 to offset each other's deficiencies
3 to complement each other

扬长避短

yáng cháng bì duǎn

1 to foster strengths and avoid weaknesses (idiom)
2 to play to one's strengths

Sample Sentences

那你可以多看看整点新闻，就是那些在整点的时候播出的一些简短的新闻，通常只有五分钟，既能让你了解国际国内要事，又不浪费时间。

nà nǐ kěyǐ duō kànkan zhěngdiǎn xīnwén ，jiùshì nàxiē zài zhěngdiǎn de shíhou bōchū de yīxiē jiǎnduǎn de xīnwén ，tōngcháng zhǐyǒu wǔ fēnzhōng ，jì néng ràng nǐ liǎojiě guójì guónèi yàoshì ，yòu bù làngfèi shíjiān 。

Then you can watch the hourly bulletin. It's a roundup of key news that usually lasts for 5 minutes but gives a clear perspective on domestic and international affairs without wasting time.

Go to Lesson

接下来我们要在纪念碑前举行一个简短的仪式，奏国歌，献花篮，加入中国共青团的同学要在此宣誓。

jiē xiàlái wǒmen yào zài jìniànbēi qián jǔxíng yī gè jiǎnduǎn de yíshì ，zòu guógē ，xiàn huālán ，jiārù Zhōngguó Gòngqīngtuán de tóngxué yào zài cǐ xuānshì 。

Next, in front of the monument we are going to participate in a short ceremony, playing the National Anthem and placing flower baskets. Those students who have entered the Communist Youth League will take their oaths here.

Go to Lesson