尺有所短，寸有所长

尺有所短，寸有所长

Literally means:

one Chi may be short in one case while one Cun may be long in another

Actually means:

all people or things have their strengths and weaknesses

Although one 尺 is longer than one 寸, owing to different uses, an object of one 尺 may seem short and another of one 寸 may seem long.

Figuratively it means that different people or things have their own merits and shortcomings, which should be regarded comprehensively rather than separately. It can be contracted as 尺短寸长.

虽然一尺比一寸长，但由于使用的地方不同，一尺长的东西有时也会显得短，一寸长的东西有时也会显得长。

比喻不同的人或事物各有自己的长处和短处，不应孤立或绝对地对待其优缺点。可压缩成“尺短寸长”。