一念之差

momentary slip / false step / ill-considered action

one / single / a (article) / as soon as / entire; whole; all; throughout / "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1) / also pr. [yao1] for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit

variant of 念[nian4], to read aloud

to read / to study (a subject) / to attend (a school) / to read aloud / to give (sb) a tongue-lashing (CL:頓|顿[dun4]) / to miss (sb) / idea / remembrance / twenty (banker's anti-fraud numeral corresponding to 廿[nian4])

(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) / him / her / it

difference; discrepancy / (math.) difference (amount remaining after a subtraction) / (literary) a little; somewhat; slightly

different / wrong; mistaken / to fall short; to lack / not up to standard; inferior / Taiwan pr. [cha1]

to send (on an errand) / (archaic) person sent on such an errand / job; official post

used in 參差|参差[cen1 ci1]