一念之差

yīniànzhīchā

idiom #43,847

Meanings

1 a momentary lapse of judgment
2 a single wrong thought (that leads to serious consequences)

Characters

of (classical possessive)

difference; error; deviation

Examples

只因一念之差，他失去了多年的朋友。

Zhǐ yīn yī niàn zhī chā, tā shīqù le duōnián de péngyǒu.

Because of one moment's wrong thought, he lost a friend of many years.

一念之差，她错过了这次机会。

Yī niàn zhī chā, tā cuòguò le zhè cì jīhuì.

A single lapse in judgment and she missed this chance.

很多悲剧都源于一念之差。

Hěn duō bēijù dōu yuányú yī niàn zhī chā.

Many tragedies come from a single wrong thought.

Tips

history

Recorded in the Song compilation 《类说》 quoting 《遁斋闲览》: '一念之误，乃至于此' — 'a single thought gone wrong led to all this.'

usage

Carries moral weight: used when a brief mental slip leads to serious, often regrettable consequences (a crime, a lost chance, a broken relationship). Not used for trivial mistakes.

Stroke Order

一 yī

念 niàn

之 zhī

差 chà