欠点を直す

You’ll usually use this when talking about yourself or your goals. It’s a bit like fixing a broken toaster, but the toaster is your tendency to procrastinate. You combine the noun 欠点 (shortcoming) with the verb 直す (to fix). If you’re feeling determined, you might say 欠点を直したい (I want to fix my flaws). If you’re in the middle of the struggle, 欠点を直そうとしている (I’m trying to fix my flaws) works perfectly. It’s a versatile phrase that fits into both casual chats and serious life-planning sessions.

This is your go-to phrase for job interviews when they ask about your weaknesses. It shows you have self-awareness! It’s also great for heart-to-heart talks with a partner or a close friend. If you’ve just realized you’ve been a bit of a 'Debbie Downer,' you might use this to promise a change. You can even use it when texting a friend to apologize for a recurring mistake, like forgetting to reply to messages. It sounds sincere and proactive.

Be careful using this about other people. Telling someone あなたの欠点を直しなさい (Fix your flaws!) is a one-way ticket to an argument. It sounds very critical and condescending. Also, don't use 欠点 for physical objects. If your car is broken, you just use 直す or 修理する. Using 欠点 implies a character defect or a conceptual shortcoming. Finally, if the 'flaw' is just a small mistake on a test, use 間違いを直す instead. 欠点 is for deeper, more permanent traits.

In Japan, there's a huge emphasis on 反省 (hansei), or self-reflection. It’s considered a sign of maturity to look at yourself objectively and find areas for growth. This ties into the concept of 改善 (kaizen), or continuous improvement. Instead of feeling bad about having flaws, the Japanese perspective often views identifying them as the first step toward becoming a 'polished' person. It’s less about being 'broken' and more about being a work in progress.

You might hear 短所を直す (tansho o naosu). 短所 is a slightly softer way to say 'weak points' and is very common in formal settings like resumes. If you want to sound more intense, you could use 欠点を克服する (ketten o kokufuku suru), which means 'to overcome your flaws.' For a more casual vibe among friends, you might just say だめなところを直す (fixing my bad parts). All of these revolve around the same core idea: being a better version of yourself than you were yesterday.