learn from others' strengths to remedy one's weaknesses
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to learn from others' strong points to remedy one's own weaknesses; to use others' strengths to correct one's flaws
literaryLiterary idiom, derived from the Classic of Poetry. ‘错’ (cuò) means ‘whetstone’ and ‘攻’ (gōng) means ‘to work/polish’ in the original context, alluding to polishing jade with stones from another mountain. Used metaphorically for self-improvement through emulating others.
Tā他
shān山
zhī之
shí石
，
kě可
yǐ以
gōng攻
yù玉
；
wǒ我
men们
yīng应
dāng当
gōng攻
cuò错
，
xī吸
qǔ取
tā他
rén人
jīng经
yàn验
。
Stones from other hills can polish jade; we should learn from others and absorb their experience.
Zài在
guǎn管
lǐ理
xué学
shàng上
，
gōng攻
cuò错
shì是
yī一
zhǒng种
zhòng重
yào要
de的
xué学
xí习
cè策
luè略
。
In management studies, learning from others' strengths is an important learning strategy.
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Zhè这
cì次
kǎo考
chá察
de的
mù目
dì的
shì是
gōng攻
cuò错
，
jiè借
jiàn鉴
xiōng兄
dì弟
dān单
wèi位
de的
xiān先
jìn进
zuò做
fǎ法
。
The purpose of this investigation is to learn from others and draw lessons from the advanced practices of sibling organizations.