一失足成千古恨 (yī shī zú chéng qiān gǔ hèn) — a single mistake can lead to lifelong regret

Definition

A chengyu meaning one single mistake can cause lifelong regret — used as a warning about irreversible consequences of a careless act.

idiom
a single mistake can lead to lifelong regret

Examples

  • ，一失足成千古恨。
    Tā yīn wèi yì shí tān xīn fàn le fǎ, zhēn shì yī shī zú chéng qiān gǔ hèn.
    He broke the law out of momentary greed — truly, one slip led to eternal regret.
  • ，一失足成千古恨。
    Nián qīng rén zuò shì yào xiǎo xīn, yī shī zú chéng qiān gǔ hèn a.
    Young people must be careful in their actions — one mistake can bring lifelong regret.
  • 一失足成千古恨，，。
    yī shī zú chéng qiān gǔ hèn, Tā jiǔ hòu kāi chē zhuàng le rén, yí bèi zi dōu hòu huǐ.
    One slip led to eternal regret — he drove drunk and hit someone, and regretted it for life.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape is explained as a fallen person's footprint surrounded by drops of blood; another reading pairs 手 (hand) and 乙 to show something falling from a hand.

Open 失 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

足 was originally drawn as a leg.

Open 足 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
一一yīone, signifying a number
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén千qiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

千 pairs 人, whose sound was similar, with 一, a number stroke; the extra line was explained as extension, and a thousand is a number reached by extending counting.

Open 千 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

One reading of 古 sees a shield-like shape above an open mark, showing strength and firmness. Another sees a person spitting out bad-tasting food.

Open 古 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart; thought; emotion
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn恨hèn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 忄 is the heart, pointing to an emotion such as regret or hate. The right side 艮 supplies the sound.

Open 恨 →

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