Definition
This is a Chinese proverb (成语) meaning 'a single slip can cause eternal regret.' It warns that one wrong decision or mistake — especially a moral lapse or a critical error in judgment — can lead to lifelong consequences. You'll hear it used in contexts like crime, infidelity, or career-ending mistakes. The literal imagery is 'one slip of the foot becomes a thousand ages of regret.'
f.e.
a single mistake can lead to lifelong regret
Examples
- ，一失足成千古恨。Tā yīnwèi yìshí tānxīn fàn le fǎ, zhēnshi 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。Niánqīngrén zuò shì yào xiǎoxīn, 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, yíbèizi dōu hòuhuǐ.One slip led to eternal regret — he drove drunk and hit someone, and regretted it for life.
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