諺語 · a single proverb
借人之長，補己之短
Simplified: 借人之长，补己之短
What does 借人之長，補己之短 (jiè rén zhī cháng bǔ jǐ zhī duǎn) mean?
借人之長，補己之短 (jiè rén zhī cháng bǔ jǐ zhī duǎn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "borrow others' strengths, fill in one's own shortfalls." In use it means: Learn from others' strengths to compensate for your own weaknesses. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Goat.
Literally: "borrow others' strengths, fill in one's own shortfalls."
The reading
The structure that knows where it is weak and finds complementary strength nearby becomes the structure that stands. Pride insists on hiding the gap; wisdom finds someone whose surplus fills it, and the exchange strengthens both. We are all more complete in the company of what we lack.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Traditional Chinese folk proverb (yanyu)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Humility & Self-Mastery, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Goat, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 借人之長，補己之短 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 借人之長，補己之短 (jiè rén zhī cháng bǔ jǐ zhī duǎn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Traditional Chinese folk proverb (yanyu). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 借人之長，補己之短?
In Mandarin it is jiè rén zhī cháng bǔ jǐ zhī duǎn. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 借人之長，補己之短 aloud in Mandarin.