長所
Meaning in Englishstrong point, merit; advantage
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
What does 長所 mean? It refers to the positive attributes or strengths of a person, object, or idea—its favorable traits or advantages. In everyday use it highlights what is good or beneficial, often appearing in self-descriptions, evaluations, or product descriptions.
Main meanings
- Positive attributes describing strengths in people, skills, or items.
- Advantages or merits highlighted in comparisons, reviews, or marketing.
- In discussions of pros and cons, emphasizes the 'pros' side alongside 短所.
How to use it
Used to denote someone or something's favorable qualities; suitable for both formal writing and casual speech. It is commonly placed with は, が, or の to mark topics or subjects, and appears in contexts like self-introductions, evaluations, and product descriptions. The term remains neutral and objective, avoiding value judgments unless paired with evaluative language.
Variants and close terms
- 強み (つよみ, tsuyomi) — strength, strong point
- 利点 (りてん, riten) — advantage, benefit
- 優点 (ゆうてん, yūten) — merit, advantage
- 短所 (たんしょ, tansho) — weakness, drawback
- 欠点 (けってん, ketten) — flaw
Composition
- 長: long, prominent; conveys a sense of magnitude or importance
- 所: place, point, aspect; here indicates a facet or feature
- When combined as 長所, the meaning shifts to the notable or favorable aspects of something
Etymology
etimologia On'yomi chōsho, a compound of 長 and 所. The reading reflects Sino-Japanese phonology; kun'yomi is not used for this word.
Word class
Noun (名詞)