一長一短
Meanings
1
merits and demerits; advantages and disadvantages; good points and shortcomings
Used to describe something that has both strong and weak points; often appears in balanced evaluations.
Every proposal has its merits and demerits.
This system has both advantages and disadvantages, so introducing it is not straightforward.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉には一長一短があるX has its pros and cons
Every method has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- 〈物〉は一長一短だX is a mixed bag (has both merits and demerits)
This apartment is close to the station but expensive, so it has both good and bad points.