Usage of the character 短

lit. use others' strengths to make up for one's weak points (idiom from Mencius)
to use this in place of that
what you lose on the swings, you win on the roundabouts

zhēngchánglùnduǎn

争长论短

[爭長論短]

lit. to argue who is right and wrong (idiom)
fig. to squabble; to argue over minor issues

huīduǎnjiǎobēi

灰短脚鹎

[灰短腳鵯]

(bird species of China) ashy bulbul (Hemixos flavala)

duǎnxiǎojīnghàn

短小精悍

[短小精悍]

(of a person) short but plucky (idiom)
(of an article) concise and forceful

qí Bxiǎoduǎnqún

齐B小短裙

[齊B小短裙]

(slang) micro-miniskirt

lìbèiduǎnjiǎobēi

栗背短脚鹎

[栗背短腳鵯]

(bird species of China) chestnut bulbul (Hemixos castanonotus)

jùzuǐduǎnchìyīng

巨嘴短翅莺

[巨嘴短翅鶯]

(bird species of China) long-billed bush warbler (Locustella major)

Nǎoméngduǎnwěiméi

瑙蒙短尾鹛

[瑙蒙短尾鶥]

(bird species of China) Naung Mung scimitar babbler (Napothera naungmungensis)

lì'ěrduǎnjiǎobēi

栗耳短脚鹎

[栗耳短腳鵯]

(bird species of China) brown-eared bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis)

duǎnwěixìntiānwēng

短尾信天翁

[短尾信天翁]

(bird species of China) short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus)

zōnghèduǎnchìyīng

棕褐短翅莺

[棕褐短翅鶯]

(bird species of China) brown bush warbler (Locustella luteoventris)

Táiwānduǎnchìyīng

台湾短翅莺

[臺灣短翅鶯]

(bird species of China) Taiwan bush warbler (Locustella alishanensis)

dàduǎnzhǐbǎilíng

大短趾百灵

[大短趾百靈]

(bird species of China) greater short-toed lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)

lüchìduǎnjiǎobēi

绿翅短脚鹎

[綠翅短腳鵯]

(bird species of China) mountain bulbul (Ixos mcclellandii)

lìbèiduǎnchìdōng

栗背短翅鸫

[栗背短翅鶇]

(bird species of China) Gould's shortwing (Heteroxenicus stellatus)

bānxiōngduǎnchìyīng

斑胸短翅莺

[斑胸短翅鶯]

(bird species of China) spotted bush warbler (Locustella thoracica)

huīyǎnduǎnjiǎobēi

灰眼短脚鹎

[灰眼短腳鵯]

(bird species of China) grey-eyed bulbul (Iole propinqua)

duǎnzuǐshānjiāoniǎo

短嘴山椒鸟

[短嘴山椒鳥]

(bird species of China) short-billed minivet (Pericrocotus brevirostris)

gāoshānduǎnchìyīng

高山短翅莺

[高山短翅鶯]

(bird species of China) russet bush warbler (Locustella mandelli)

báifùduǎnchìqú

白腹短翅鸲

[白腹短翅鴝]

(bird species of China) white-bellied redstart (Luscinia phoenicuroides)

duǎnwěi'ǎidàishǔ

短尾矮袋鼠

[短尾矮袋鼠]

quokka (Setonix brachyurus)

Zhōnghuáduǎnchìyīng

中华短翅莺

[中華短翅鶯]

(bird species of China) Chinese bush warbler (Locustella tacsanowskia)

jíduǎnpiānxiǎoshuō

极短篇小说

[極短篇小說]

flash fiction

báihóuduǎnchìdōng

白喉短翅鸫

[白喉短翅鶇]

(bird species of China) lesser shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris)

xiùfùduǎnchìdōng

锈腹短翅鸫

[鏽腹短翅鶇]

(bird species of China) rusty-bellied shortwing (Brachypteryx hyperythra)

duǎnzuǐjīnsīyàn

短嘴金丝燕

[短嘴金絲燕]

(bird species of China) Himalayan swiftlet (Aerodramus brevirostris)

xíngróngcíduǎnyǔ

形容词短语

[形容詞短語]

adjectival phrase

chángtòngbùrúduǎntòng

长痛不如短痛

[長痛不如短痛]

better to just get the pain over with, rather than prolong the agony

lányāoduǎnwěiyīngwǔ

蓝腰短尾鹦鹉

[藍腰短尾鸚鵡]

(bird species of China) blue-rumped parrot (Psittinus cyanurus)

xìzuǐduǎnzhǐbǎilíng

细嘴短趾百灵

[細嘴短趾百靈]

(bird species of China) Hume's short-toed lark (Calandrella acutirostris)

dōngjiāchángxījiāduǎn

东家长西家短

[東家長西家短]

to gossip (idiom)

duǎnjùqǐluòfēijī

短距起落飞机

[短距起落飛機]

short takeoff and landing aircraft

duǎnshíyǔyīnjìyì

短时语音记忆

[短時語音記憶]

short-term phonological memory

Yàzhōuduǎnzhǐbǎilíng

亚洲短趾百灵

[亞洲短趾百靈]

(bird species of China) Asian short-toed lark (Alaudala cheleensis)

Zhāngjiācháng, Lǐjiāduǎn

张家长，李家短

[張家長，李家短]

lit. the Zhangs are better off than the Lis (idiom); to gossip about the neighbors

rénshēngduǎnzàn,xuéshùwúyá

人生短暂，学术无涯

[人生短暫，學術無涯]

Life is short, learning is limitless
Ars longa, vita brevis

chǐyǒusuǒduǎn,cùnyǒusuǒcháng

尺有所短，寸有所长

[尺有所短，寸有所長]

lit. for some things a foot may be too short, and for the other an inch will suffice (proverb)
fig. everyone has their strong and weak points
everything has its advantages and disadvantages

chuízhíhéduǎnjùqǐluòfēijī

垂直和短距起落飞机

[垂直和短距起落飛機]

vertical or short takeoff and landing aircraft

chīrénjiādezuǐruǎn,nárénjiādeshǒuduǎn

吃人家的嘴软，拿人家的手短

[吃人家的嘴軟，拿人家的手短]

lit. the mouth that has been fed by others is soft, the hand that has received doesn't reach (idiom)
fig. one is partial to those from whom presents have been accepted