長短(ちょうたん)

ちょうたん
noun
long and short; pros and cons
1. long and short; length
The contrast between long and short; various lengths.
棒(ぼう)の長短(ちょうたん)を比(くら)べる。
To compare the lengths of sticks.
長短(ちょうたん)さまざまな鉛筆(えんぴつ)がある。
There are pencils of various lengths.
2. strengths and weaknesses; pros and cons
Good points and bad points; advantages and disadvantages.
どんな方法(ほうほう)にも長短(ちょうたん)がある。
Every method has its pros and cons.

長短(ちょうたん) combines 長(ちょう) (long) and 短(たん) (short). It describes either physical length differences or metaphorical strengths and weaknesses.

MEANINGS:
1. Physical: varying lengths (長短(ちょうたん)さまざまな = of various lengths)
2. Abstract: pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 長短(ちょうたん)がある: to have pros and cons
  • 長短(ちょうたん)を比(くら)べる: to compare lengths / to weigh pros and cons

RELATED:

  • 一長一短(いっちょういったん): having both merits and demerits (four-character idiom)
  • 長所(ちょうしょ): strong point
  • 短所(たんしょ): weak point

Related Words

Related: 一長一短(いっちょういったん) (four-character idiom)
core
Added 2026.1.16 17:11 · Revised 2026.1.30 18:15
05500/05558_choutan