short

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 短 has 12 strokes and concerns short length or duration and can also denote a shortcoming.
• Basic usage: 短い is read みじかい, and 短所 is read たんしょ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Shortness and a shortcoming
  • 短い休み means a short vacation.
  • 短い髪型 means a short hairstyle.
  • The 短 in 短所 is read たん.
  • この道具の短所 means this tool's drawback. 短所 can describe a drawback of an object as well as a person's weakness.