失之毫厘，谬以千里 — “A tiny initial error can lead to a huge mistake or discrepancy”
失之毫厘，谬以千里 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a tiny initial error can lead to a huge mistake or discrepancy”. Even a small deviation can result in a significant problem. Literally, “To lose by a hair's breadth, and err by a thousand miles”.
失之毫厘，谬以千里 Pronunciation and Pinyin
失之毫厘，谬以千里 Character Breakdown
Example Sentence with 失之毫厘，谬以千里
Origin and Story of 失之毫厘，谬以千里
During the Western Han Dynasty, General Zhao Chongguo was sent by Emperor Xuan to quell a rebellion in the northwest.
Zhao Chongguo observed that the rebel forces were disunited and advocated a strategy of appeasement, successfully bringing many rebels to surrender.
However, Emperor Xuan commanded him to engage in battle, which unfortunately resulted in an initial setback.
Later, when Zhao Chongguo was ordered to gather military provisions according to the emperor's plan, this action inadvertently provoked further unrest.
Reflecting on these events, Zhao Chongguo sighed, expressing the sentiment that 'a miss by a hair's breadth leads to an error of a thousand miles,' understanding how a slight deviation from the optimal path could lead to vastly different and undesired outcomes.
Idioms Related to 失之毫厘，谬以千里
Synonyms of 失之毫厘，谬以千里
More idioms starting with 失
- shī失zhī之dōng东yú隅lose at the beginning
- shī失zhī之dōng东yú隅，，shōu收zhī之sāng桑yú榆lose in one place, gain in another
- shī失zhī之jiāo交bì臂miss a golden opportunity
- shī失zhī之qiān千lǐ里，，chà差ruò若háo毫lí厘A tiny error leads to a huge divergence
- shī失zhī之háo毫lí厘，，chà差yǐ以qiān千lǐ里A small error leads to a huge mistake
- shī失zhāng张mào冒shì势act rashly and impetuously
- shī失zhāng张shī失zhì志flustered and disoriented
- shī失zhāng张shī失zhì智utterly flustered and disoriented
- shī失zhāng张shī失zhì致flustered and disoriented
- shī失jīng惊dǎo倒guài怪make a fuss over nothing
- shī失jīng惊dǎ打guài怪make a fuss over a trifle
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Open the tool →Questions about 失之毫厘，谬以千里
What does 失之毫厘，谬以千里 mean?
失之毫厘，谬以千里 (shī zhī háo lí ， miù yǐ qiān lǐ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “a tiny initial error can lead to a huge mistake or discrepancy”.
How do you pronounce 失之毫厘，谬以千里?
失之毫厘，谬以千里 is pronounced shī zhī háo lí ， miù yǐ qiān lǐ in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 失之毫厘，谬以千里 literally mean?
Literally, 失之毫厘，谬以千里 means “to lose by a hair's breadth, and err by a thousand miles”. It is used to mean “a tiny initial error can lead to a huge mistake or discrepancy”.
Where does 失之毫厘，谬以千里 come from?
失之毫厘，谬以千里 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 失之毫厘，谬以千里?
毫、厘：两种极小的长度单位。开始稍微有一点差错，结果会造成很大的错误。