一

yī

Pinyin
yī
Pinyin (Plain)
yi
Tone
1
Strokes
1
Radical
一
Readings
yīyiTone: 1one; 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 digitOrder: 0Primary
Stroke Order Code
Speed
Stroke Order Data
["M 518 382 Q 572 385 623 389 Q 758 399 900 383 Q 928 379 935 390 Q 944 405 930 419 Q 896 452 845 475 Q 829 482 798 473 Q 723 460 480 434 Q 180 409 137 408 Q 130 408 124 408 Q 108 408 106 395 Q 105 380 127 363 Q 146 348 183 334 Q 195 330 216 338 Q 232 344 306 354 Q 400 373 518 382 Z"]
Meaning
The character “一” primarily means the number “one” and is used for counting, ordering (first), or indicating a single unit of something. It can also suggest “once,” “a bit,” or “whole/entire” in context (for example, in set phrases like “一共” meaning “in total” or “all together”).
Metadata
Locale: en
Cached At: 5/9/2026, 2:27:28 AM

Usage

The character 「一」 literally means “one” and is first learned as the basic number 1, both on its own (一, 二, 三…) and inside larger numbers (十一 = 11, 二十一 = 21, etc.). Learners quickly see it in dates, prices, and basic counting, as well as in measure word patterns like 一个人 (one person), 一杯水 (a glass of water), and 一天 (one day). In these phrases it can mean either “one” exactly or “a / an” in a more general sense, so 一个人 often just means “a person” rather than specifically “one person.” It is also used in common fixed expressions like 第一 (first), always written with 一 even though it’s pronounced “yī” or “dì‑yī” depending on context. Beyond the literal number, 「一」 frequently appears in very common grammar patterns and everyday words. In structures like 一边…一边… (doing A while doing B), 一起 (together), and 一直 (continuously / straight), it contributes the idea of “one, single, continuous” rather than the number 1. In verbs plus 一下 (e.g., 看一下, “have a quick look”), 一 makes the action brief or polite, so learners meet it constantly in spoken Chinese. Finally, it’s used in many everyday compound words and idioms—like 一点儿 (a little, a bit) and 一样 (the same)—where it often softens or generalizes the meaning instead of just counting.

Handwriting Notes

In handwriting, the Chinese character 「一」 is a single horizontal line, usually slightly longer than it is thick, and most writers give it a gentle taper or curve rather than making it perfectly straight like a ruler line. In regular handwriting it tends to be a bit thicker in the middle and may lift slightly at one or both ends, or show a tiny downward or upward curve, depending on the person’s writing style and speed. When written quickly, it can look shorter, more slanted, or less centered than in printed fonts, and the thickness can vary a lot: from a light, almost sketchy stroke to a bold, heavy line. Because it is so simple and can resemble a dash, an underline, or even part of another character, context is important for humans reading it, and AI handwriting recognition systems are also trained to distinguish this single-stroke character from stray lines and from similar horizontal strokes that appear inside more complex characters.

Description

“一” is a basic Chinese character meaning “one” and is also used to indicate “first” or “single.” It is pronounced yī in Mandarin and is a horizontal stroke, often used in numbers, dates, and basic expressions.

Common Words

  • 一月yī yuèJanuary
  • 一年yī niánone year; a year
  • 一天yī tiānone day; a day
  • 一次yí cìonce; one time
  • 一定yí dìngcertainly; definitely; for sure
  • 一直yì zhíalways; continuously; straight
  • 一般yì bānordinary; general; so-so
  • 一半yí bànhalf
  • 一切yí qièeverything; all
  • 一起yì qǐtogether
  • 一样yí yàngthe same; similar
  • 一共yí gòngaltogether; in total
  • 一直yì zhíalways; all the time; straight
  • 一下yí xiàa bit; once; (used after a verb to soften tone)
  • 一会儿yí huìra little while; a moment
  • 一生yì shēngone’s whole life; a lifetime
  • 一边yì biānone side; at the same time (when doing two actions)
  • 一生yì shēnglifetime; all one’s life
  • 一心yì xīnwholeheartedly; single-mindedly
  • 一带yí dàisurrounding area; region
  • 一些yì xiēsome; a few
  • 一共yí gòngin total; altogether
  • 一定要yí dìng yàomust; have to; be sure to
  • 一部分yí bù fèna part; a portion
  • 一方面yì fāng miànon one hand; in one respect
  • 一生一世yì shēng yí shìfor a lifetime; forever (romantic/poetic)
  • 一举两得yì jǔ liǎng dékill two birds with one stone
  • 一目了然yí mù liǎo ránclear at a glance; obvious
  • 一成不变yì chéng bú biànunchanging; invariable
  • 一心一意yì xīn yí yìwholeheartedly; with single-minded devotion

Example Sentences

一切伟大的行动和思想，都有一个微不足道的开始。

Yīqiè wěidà de xíngdòng hé sīxiǎng, dōu yǒu yí gè wēibùzúdào de kāishǐ.

All great actions and thoughts have a trivial beginning.

不积跬步，无以至千里；不积小流，无以成江海。

Bù jī kuǐbù, wú yǐ zhì qiānlǐ; bù jī xiǎoliú, wú yǐ chéng jiānghǎi.

Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without gathering small streams, one cannot form rivers and seas.

一岁一礼，一寸欢喜。

Yí suì yì lǐ, yí cùn huānxǐ.

Each year is a little ceremony, and each inch of growth brings a bit of joy.

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