qǔ cháng bǔ duǎn
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
取
qǔ
to take
长
cháng
long
补
bǔ
to repair
短
duǎn
short