阴差阳错

Traditional form:

陰差陽錯

Pinyin (reading):

yīnchāyángcuò

Definitions:

• (idiom) due to an unexpected turn of events

Characters:

• 阴 - the female principle; dark, shaded; hidden, implicit, secret
• 差 - difference, gap; almost, nearly; in error; an officer
• 阳 - the male principle; bright, sunny; clear, lit, open
• 错 - error, mistake; incorrect, wrong

Traditional characters:

• 陰 - the female principle; dark, shaded; hidden, implicit, secret
• 差 - difference, gap; almost, nearly; in error; an officer
• 陽 - the male principle; bright, sunny; clear, lit, open
• 錯 - error, mistake; incorrect, wrong