智者千虑，必有一失 in English zhi4 zhe3 qian1 lu:4 , bi4 you3 yi1 shi1 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) a wise person reflecting a thousand times can still make a mistake (idiomatic expression); metaphorically nobody is infallible

Simplified Characters

智 者 千 虑 ， 必 有 一 失

Traditional Characters

智 者 千 慮 ， 必 有 一 失

Pinyin

zhi4 zhe3 qian1 lu:4 , bi4 you3 yi1 shi1

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

智zhi4wisdom 者zhe3(after a verb or adjective) one who (is) ... 千qian1thousand 虑lv4to think over ， 必bi4certainly 有you3to have 一yi1one 失shi1to lose