due to a strange combination of circumstances; by mistake
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
due to a strange combination of circumstances; by accident; as a result of a mix-up
Often used to describe unexpected mistakes or coincidences that lead to unintended outcomes. The variant form 阴差阳错 is also commonly used.
Tā他
men们
yīn阴
cuò错
yáng阳
chā差
de地
cuò错
guò过
le了
bǐ彼
cǐ此
。
They missed each other by a strange combination of circumstances.
Yóu由
yú于
yīn阴
cuò错
yáng阳
chā差
，
wǒ我
ná拿
dào到
le了
bié别
rén人
de的
bāo包
guǒ裹
。
Due to a mix-up, I received someone else's package.
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Yīn阴
cuò错
yáng阳
chā差
zhī之
xià下
，
tā他
jìng竟
rán然
chéng成
le了
yīng英
xióng雄
。
By a strange twist of fate, he actually became a hero.
Zhè这
fēng封
xìn信
yīn阴
cuò错
yáng阳
chā差
de地
sòng送
dào到
le了
wǒ我
shǒu手
lǐ里
。
This letter ended up in my hands by mistake.