<p>Both 长短 and 长度 mean 'length'</p>
<p>长短 is mostly used colloquially; 长度 is more common in both literary and colloquial form</p>
<blockquote>
<p>When in smaller scale, the two terms are interchangeable.</p>
<p>For example: 剑的<strong>长短</strong>通常是70-110厘米 = 剑的<strong>长度</strong>通常是70-110厘米 (The length of a sword is usually 70-110 cm)</p>
<p><em>When something can be short or long, using 长短 should be safe, e.g. 路线的长短不一 (the length of routes vary)</em></p>
<p>but using 长度 is the safest: 路线的长短不一 = 路线的长度不一*</p>
</blockquote>
<p>~</p>
<blockquote>
<p>When in larger scale, we only use 长度</p>
<p>For example: 泰坦尼克号的<strong>长度</strong>是269米 (length of Titanic is 269 m)</p>
<p><em>We don't say 泰坦尼克号的长短是269米</em></p>
<p><em>ships like Titanic can never be described as short</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>长短 can also be a shortened form  of '长处短处' (strengths and weaknesses); 说人长短 means &quot;criticize someone&quot;</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-26T11:56:03.287Z
2019-03-26T12:06:35.710Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>Based in the dictionary, 长短 = length and 长度 = length. What is the usage or difference between the two words? </p>

<meaning><usage>
Usage of 长短 vs 长度
# Usage of 长短 vs 长度

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-03-26)

Based in the dictionary, 长短 = length and 长度 = length. What is the usage or difference between the two words?

**Tags:** meaning, usage


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-03-26. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Both 长短 and 长度 mean 'length'

长短 is mostly used colloquially; 长度 is more common in both literary and colloquial form

> When in smaller scale, the two terms are interchangeable.
>
> For example: 剑的**长短**通常是70-110厘米 = 剑的**长度**通常是70-110厘米 (The length of a sword is usually 70-110 cm)
>
> *When something can be short or long, using 长短 should be safe, e.g. 路线的长短不一 (the length of routes vary)*
>
> but using 长度 is the safest: 路线的长短不一 = 路线的长度不一\*

~

> When in larger scale, we only use 长度
>
> For example: 泰坦尼克号的**长度**是269米 (length of Titanic is 269 m)
>
> *We don't say 泰坦尼克号的长短是269米*
>
> *ships like Titanic can never be described as short*

*长短 can also be a shortened form of '长处短处' (strengths and weaknesses); 说人长短 means "criticize someone"*


---

