差之毫厘，失之千里 in English cha1 zhi1 hao2 li2 , shi1 zhi1 qian1 li3 Meaning

Meanings

  • the slightest difference leads to a huge loss (idiomatic expression)
  • a miss is as good as a mile

Simplified Characters

差 之 毫 厘 ， 失 之 千 里

Traditional Characters

差 之 毫 釐 ， 失 之 千 里

Pinyin

cha1 zhi1 hao2 li2 , shi1 zhi1 qian1 li3

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

差cha4difference 之zhi1(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) 毫hao2hair 厘li2variant of 釐|厘[li2] ， 失shi1to lose 之zhi1(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) 千qian1thousand 里li3variant of 裡|里[li3]