长短

長短

chángduǎn

noun HSK 6 #33,317

Meanings

Long and short - can refer to literal length or figurative disputes.

HSK 3

别在背后说人长短。

Bié zài bèihòu shuō rén chángduǎn.

Don't gossip about people behind their backs.

HSK 4

万一有个长短怎么办？

Wànyī yǒu gè chángduǎn zěnmebàn?

What if something bad happens?

HSK 7-9

这两条绳子长短不一样。

Zhè liǎng tiáo shéngzi chángduǎn bùyīyàng.

These two ropes are different lengths.

usage

说长短 means to gossip. 有个长短 is a euphemism for 'if something bad happens (death/injury).' These figurative meanings are very common in daily Chinese.

长 cháng

短 duǎn