一念之差 yī niàn zhī chā One thought's difference

Explanation

一念之差，指由于一个念头上的错误而导致的结果，通常是比较严重的后果。例如，由于一个疏忽大意，导致事故发生，就是一念之差。这个成语主要用来形容人们在做决定时，要谨慎考虑，避免因一时冲动而做出错误的决定。

The idiom "One thought's difference" means that the result is caused by an error in one thought, which usually has a more serious consequence. For example, an accident caused by negligence is one thought's difference. This idiom mainly refers to the fact that people should carefully consider when making decisions, to avoid making wrong decisions due to temporary impulse.

Origin Story

在古代，有一个名叫李明的书生，他勤奋好学，成绩优异，是村里公认的才子。有一天，李明参加了一场重要的考试，他信心满满，认为自己一定能考中。然而，就在考试前一天，李明突然心血来潮，想出去玩一玩。他本来想拒绝朋友的邀请，继续留在家里复习功课。可是，他突然想起好久没去城里的酒楼喝酒了，便决定出去放松一下。结果，第二天早上，李明因为贪玩，睡过头了，等他赶到考场的时候，已经迟到了。他眼看着考试大门已经关闭，只能眼睁睁地看着自己的梦想化为泡影。李明后悔莫及，因为他仅仅只是一念之差，就错过了改变人生的机会。

zài gǔ dài, yǒu yī gè míng jiào lǐ míng de shū shēng, tā qín fèn hào xué, chéng jī yōu yì, shì cūn lǐ gōng rèn de cái zǐ. yǒu yī tiān, lǐ míng cān jiā le yī chǎng zhòng yào de kǎo shì, tā xìn xīn mǎn mǎn, rèn wéi zì jǐ yī dìng néng kǎo zhòng. rán ér, jiù zài kǎo shì qián yī tiān, lǐ míng túrán xīn xuè lái chá, xiǎng chū qù wán yī wán. tā běn lái xiǎng jù jué péng you de yāo qǐng, jì xù liú zài jiā lǐ fù xí gōng kè. kě shì, tā túrán xiǎng qǐ hǎo jiǔ méi qù chéng lǐ de jiǔ lóu hē jiǔ le, biàn jué dìng chū qù fàng sōng yī xià. jié guǒ, dì èr tiān zǎo shàng, lǐ míng yīn wéi tān wán, shuì guò tóu le, děng tā gǎn dào kǎo chǎng de shí hòu, yǐ jīng chī dào le. tā yǎn kàn zhe kǎo shì dà mén yǐ jīng guān bì, zhǐ néng yǎn zhēng zhēng dì kàn zhe zì jǐ de mèng xiǎng huà wéi pào yǐng. lǐ míng hòu huǐ mò jí, yīn wéi tā jǐn jǐn zhǐ shì yī niàn zhī chā, jiù cuò guò le gǎi biàn rén shēng de jī huì.

In ancient times, there was a scholar named Li Ming, who was diligent and studious, with excellent grades, and was considered a talented person in the village. One day, Li Ming took part in an important exam, he was full of confidence and thought he would surely pass. However, the day before the exam, Li Ming suddenly felt like going out to play. He originally wanted to decline his friend's invitation and continue to stay at home to review his lessons. However, he suddenly remembered that he hadn't been to the tavern in the city for a long time to drink, so he decided to go out and relax. As a result, the next morning, Li Ming overslept because of playing, when he arrived at the examination hall, it was already too late. He watched as the exam doors closed, and he could only watch helplessly as his dream turned into a mirage. Li Ming regretted it deeply, because he had only missed the opportunity to change his life because of a momentary lapse in judgment.

Usage

“一念之差”通常用来形容由于一时疏忽或冲动，而导致错误或失败的事件，或是用来警示人们，在做决定之前要谨慎思考，避免因一念之差而造成严重后果。例如，在工作中，一个看似无关紧要的小错误，可能就会导致项目失败，这就是一念之差。

“yī niàn zhī chā” tóng cháng yòng lái xíng róng yīn wéi yī shí shū hū huò chōng dòng, ér dǎo zhì cuò wù huò shī bài de shì jiàn, huò shì yòng lái jǐng shì rén men, zài zuò jué dìng zhī qián yào jǐn shèn sī kǎo, bì miǎn yīn yī niàn zhī chā ér zào chéng yán zhòng hòu guǒ. lì rú, zài gōng zuò zhōng, yī gè kàn sì wú guān jǐn yào de xiǎo cuò wù, kě néng jiù huì dǎo zhì xiàng mù shī bài, zhè jiù shì yī niàn zhī chā.

The idiom "One thought's difference" is often used to describe events that lead to errors or failures due to momentary negligence or impulse, or to warn people that they should think carefully before making decisions to avoid serious consequences due to a momentary lapse in judgment. For example, in the workplace, a seemingly insignificant error can lead to the failure of a project, which is one thought's difference.

Examples

• 他一念之差，错过了这难得的机会。

  tā yī niàn zhī chā, cuò guò le zhè nán dé de jī huì.

  He missed this rare opportunity because of a momentary lapse in judgment.

• 一念之差，可能就会改变一个人的命运。

  yī niàn zhī chā, kě néng jiù huì gǎi biàn yī gè rén de mìng yùn.

  A single wrong thought can change a person's destiny.

• 一念之差，就可能造成无法挽回的损失。

  yī niàn zhī chā, jiù kě néng zào chéng wú fǎ wán huí de sǔn shī.

  A momentary lapse in judgment can lead to irreparable losses.

Related Idioms

• 一念之误

• 差之毫厘

• 失之交臂

• 阴差阳错

Opposite Idioms

• 深思熟虑

• 三思而后行

• 慎重考虑