諺語 · a single proverb
取人之長，補己之短
Simplified: 取人之长，补己之短
What does 取人之長，補己之短 (qǔ rén zhī cháng bǔ jǐ zhī duǎn) mean?
取人之長，補己之短 (qǔ rén zhī cháng bǔ jǐ zhī duǎn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "take others' strengths to fill your own weaknesses." In use it means: Learn from what others do well to address your own gaps; humility plus observation produces the fastest improvement. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Wood note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Monkey.
Literally: "take others' strengths to fill your own weaknesses."
The reading
The person next to you is better at the thing you are worst at. The information is right there, walking around in human form, available for study. The only barrier to using it is the willingness to admit the gap. Once the admission is made, the learning is fast.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common educational proverb; Confucian self-cultivation tradition
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 Wisdom & Learning, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Monkey, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 取人之長，補己之短 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 取人之長，補己之短 (qǔ rén zhī cháng bǔ jǐ zhī duǎn) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Common educational proverb; Confucian self-cultivation tradition. 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 取人之長，補己之短?
In Mandarin it is qǔ 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 取人之長，補己之短 aloud in Mandarin.