长短 chángduǎn length
length; accident; mishap; right and wrong; good and bad; merits and demerits
How to remember 长短: 长 long + 短 short = length.
Characters
How it is used
- Length (long vs. short) - 量一下长短 (liáng yíxià chángduǎn) measure the length.
- A paired-opposite compound; beyond literal length it can mean unexpected mishap - 万一有个长短 (wànyī yǒu ge chángduǎn) if something (bad) should happen.
- Also right-and-wrong / gossip: 说长道短 (shuō cháng dào duǎn) to gossip about others.