a tiny error at the start leads to a huge mistake; emphasizes the importance of detail
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
a minute discrepancy leads to a gigantic error; be off by a hair's breadth and miss by a thousand miles
formal用来强调细节、初始条件的极端重要性，一个微小的疏忽或错误在过程中会被不断放大，最终导致完全失败或巨大偏差。常用于科学、工程、管理或为人处事等严肃语境。也说“差以毫厘，失之千里”。
Zhè这
cì次
huǒ火
jiàn箭
fā发
shè射
de的
jì计
suàn算
bì必
xū须
jīng精
què确
，
chā差
zhī之
háo毫
lí厘
，
miù谬
yǐ以
qiān千
lǐ里
。
The calculations for this rocket launch must be precise; a tiny error could lead to a huge mistake.
Fǎ法
lǜ律
wén文
jiàn件
de的
cuò措
cí辞
bì必
xū须
yán严
jǐn谨
，
fǒu否
zé则
chā差
zhī之
háo毫
lí厘
，
miù谬
yǐ以
qiān千
lǐ里
，
kě可
néng能
yǐn引
fā发
yán严
zhòng重
de的
sù诉
sòng讼
。
The wording of legal documents must be rigorous; otherwise, a slight discrepancy can lead to a massive error and potentially serious litigation.
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Dǎo导
háng航
xì系
tǒng统
de的
yī一
miǎo秒
wù误
chā差
，
duì对
yú于
cháng长
tú途
fēi飞
xíng行
lái来
shuō说
jiù就
shì是
chā差
zhī之
háo毫
lí厘
，
miù谬
yǐ以
qiān千
lǐ里
。
A one-second error in the navigation system, for a long-distance flight, means being off by a hair's breadth and missing by a thousand miles.