Meaning
one; 1; single; a(n)
Chinese: 数字一，也表示单一、整个或开始。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “yi” becomes a different word in each tone. 一 is the 1st tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 一起yī qǐ(in) the same place; together; in company (with); altogether
- 一些yī xiēsome; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...er
- 一样yī yàngsame; like; equal to; the same as
- 一边yī biānone side; either side; on the one hand; on the other hand
- 一半yī bànhalf
Example Sentence
桌子上有一本书。Zhuō zi shàng yǒu yì běn shū.There is a book on the table.
桌子Zhuō zitable上shàngon有yǒuto have一yìone本běn(bound form) root书shūbook。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
The simplest character of all: a single horizontal stroke standing for ‘one’. It is an indicative sign, not a picture.
A way to remember it
One line = one.
Easy to confuse with
- 二‘Two’: two horizontal lines instead of one.