一

yī

HSK 2.0 Level 1 HSK 3.0 Level 1 Numeral Very common

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This word has multiple dictionary entries. Choose the reading or usage you want to review.

一

yī Numeral one; single

一

yí Adverb as soon as marker in 一...就

Definitions

1. one
2. single
3. a (article)
4. as soon as
5. entire; whole; all; throughout
6. \one\ radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1)
7. also pr. [yāo] for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit

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Character focus

Stroke order

1 stroke

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 多 duō 多 duō many; much Opposite of 'one' in the sense of 'many', as in 很多 (many).: many; much

Related words

1 item

• 零 líng 零 líng zero Related as a number; zero is the absence of quantity, while one is the first integer.: zero

Synonyms

2 items

• 单 dān 单 dān bill When meaning 'single' or 'alone', as in 单一 (single) or 单独 (alone).: bill
• 全 quán 全 quán all When meaning 'whole' or 'entire', as in 全部 (all) or 整个 (whole).: all

Usage notes

Collocations

一 often pairs with 就 to mean 'as soon as', e.g., 我一到家就给你打电话 (I'll call you as soon as I get home).

Formality

In formal contexts, 一 is pronounced yī with the first tone, but in casual speech, its tone changes based on the following syllable (tone sandhi).

Grammar

Guides that feature 一

Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.

11 guides

HSK 2.0 Level 2+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min

Verb了...就... for “After …, (Then) …”

Put 了 after the first verb to mean “once this is done,” and 就 before the second verb for what follows: 我下了课就去图书馆.

Reading: yī Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 5 min

不X不...，一X... for “You Don’t Know Until You Try”

Use 不X不……，一X…… to say you only discovered something surprising once you actually did X.

Reading: yī Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 6 min

东一A，西一A and A一+Measure，B一+Measure for “Here and There”

Use 东一件西一件 for things scattered everywhere, and 你一句我一句 or 左一个右一个 for turns and repeats.

Reading: yī Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 6 min

你说你一个X，…… for “Look at You, a Grown X …”

Use 你说你一个X，…… to gently tease or scold someone whose behavior doesn’t match who they are, like a university student who can’t write a simple character.

Reading: yī Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min

把 + Verb一Verb and 把 + Verb + 了

A 把 sentence cannot end in a bare verb: finish it with a doubled verb (擦一擦, 看了看) or with 了 (卖了, 忘了).

Reading: yī Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 5+ 6 min

把...一 + Verb and 把 + Object + Verb + Object

把 + object + 一 + verb shows a quick action that leads to something else, and 把 + object 1 + verb + object 2 adds a second object that is part of or attached to the first.

Reading: yī Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 2+ HSK 3.0 Level 2+ 6 min

Doubled Verbs: 看看, 看一看, 看了看, 休息休息

Double a verb (看看, 想一想, 休息休息) to make an action sound quick and relaxed, and use 看了看 for a quick action that already happened.

Reading: yī Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min

Ever More with 一天比一天 and 一个比一个

Use 一 + measure word + 比 + 一 + measure word to say something keeps getting more so, or that each one in a group outdoes the last.

Reading: yī Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min

Four-Character Pattern 一A一B

Use 一A一B phrases like 一模一样 and 一前一后 to say “completely, every bit” or to describe two people or things as a pair.

Reading: yī Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 1+ HSK 3.0 Level 1+ 6 min

Number + Measure Word Phrases like 三个, 两本, 一次

Count people, things and actions the Chinese way, with a measure word between the number and the noun: 三个人, 两本书, 去过一次.

Reading: yī Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 5+ 5 min

说A就A for Acting Without Hesitation

Use 说A就A, as in 说走就走 and 说变就变, to say someone acts the moment they decide, or that something happens in an instant.

Reading: yī Open guide

Example Sentences

5 shown

一 滴水滴在桌上。

A drop of water dripped onto the table.

一 只熊在森林里散步。

A bear is walking in the forest.

一 股烟从烟囱里飘出来。

A puff of smoke drifted out of the chimney.

昨天晚上我看了 一 出京剧。

Last night I watched a Beijing opera performance.

他是 一 位著名的演员。

He is a famous actor.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 一

• 一一 一一 yī yī: one by one
• 一下子 一下子 yī xià zi: in a short while
• 一不小心 一不小心 yī bù xiǎo xīn: to be a little bit careless; to have a moment of inattentiveness
• 一干二净 一干二净 yī gān èr jìng: thoroughly (idiom)
• 一事无成 一事无成 yī shì wú chéng: to have achieved nothing
• 一些 一些 yī xiē: some
• 一代 一代 yī dài: generation
• 一共 一共 yī gòng: altogether
• 一再 一再 yī zài: repeatedly
• 一切 一切 yī qiè: everything
• 一刹那 一刹那 yī chà nà: a moment
• 一动不动 一动不动 yī dòng bù dòng: motionless
• 一半 一半 yī bàn: half
• 一卡通 一卡通 yī kǎ tōng: the name of various contactless smart cards, notably Yikatong (mainly for public transport in Beijing) and iPASS (mainly for public transport in Taiwan)
• 一口气 一口气 yī kǒu qì: one breath
• 一句话 一句话 yī jù huà: in a word
• 一同 一同 yī tóng: together
• 一向 一向 yī xiàng: always (previously)
• 一味 一味 yī wèi: blindly
• 一回事 一回事 yī huí shì: one and the same (thing)
• 一塌糊涂 一塌糊涂 yī tā hú tu: muddled and completely collapsing (idiom); in an awful condition
• 一大早 一大早 yī dà zǎo: at dawn
• 一天到晚 一天到晚 yī tiān dào wǎn: all day long; the whole day
• 一如既往 一如既往 yī rú jì wǎng: just as in the past (idiom); as before
• 一定 一定 yī dìng: surely
• 一家人 一家人 yī jiā rén: the whole family
• 一帆风顺 一帆风顺 yī fān fēng shùn: propitious wind throughout the journey (idiom)
• 一带 一带 yī dài: region
• 一年到头 一年到头 yī nián dào tóu: all year round
• 一度 一度 yī dù: for a time
• 一律 一律 yī lǜ: same
• 一心 一心 yī xīn: wholeheartedly
• 一心一意 一心一意 yī xīn yī yì: concentrating one's thoughts and efforts
• 一应俱全 一应俱全 yī yīng jù quán: with everything needed available
• 一成不变 一成不变 yī chéng bù biàn: (idiom) immutable; impervious to change; set in stone
• 一手 一手 yī shǒu: a skill
• 一技之长 一技之长 yī jì zhī cháng: proficiency in a particular field (idiom)
• 一把手 一把手 yī bǎ shǒu: working hand; member of a work team; participant
• 一揽子 一揽子 yī lǎn zi: all-inclusive
• 一方面 一方面 yī fāng miàn: on the one hand
• 一旁 一旁 yī páng: aside
• 一旦 一旦 yī dàn: in case (sth happens)
• 一早 一早 yī zǎo: early in the morning
• 一时 一时 yī shí: a period of time
• 一晃 一晃 yī huǎng: (of passing time) in an instant
• 一会儿 一会儿 yī huìr: a moment
• 一概 一概 yī gài: all
• 一概而论 一概而论 yī gài ér lùn: to lump different matters together (idiom)
• 一模一样 一模一样 yī mú yī yàng: exactly the same (idiom)
• 一样 一样 yī yàng: same
• 一次性 一次性 yī cì xìng: one-off (offer)
• 一毛不拔 一毛不拔 yī máo bù bá: stingy (idiom)
• 一流 一流 yī liú: top quality
• 一无所有 一无所有 yī wú suǒ yǒu: not having anything at all (idiom); utterly lacking
• 一无所知 一无所知 yī wú suǒ zhī: not knowing anything at all (idiom); completely ignorant
• 一生 一生 yī shēng: all one's life; throughout one's life
• 一目了然 一目了然 yī mù liǎo rán: obvious at a glance (idiom)
• 一直 一直 yī zhí: straight (in a straight line)
• 一眼 一眼 yī yǎn: a glance
• 一瞬间 一瞬间 yī shùn jiān: split second
• 一筹莫展 一筹莫展 yī chóu mò zhǎn: to be unable to find a solution
• 一系列 一系列 yī xì liè: a series of
• 一丝不苟 一丝不苟 yī sī bù gǒu: not one thread loose (idiom); strictly according to the rules
• 一经 一经 yī jīng: as soon as
• 一线 一线 yī xiàn: front line
• 一声不吭 一声不吭 yī shēng bù kēng: to not say a word
• 一致 一致 yī zhì: unanimous
• 一举 一举 yī jǔ: a move
• 一举一动 一举一动 yī jǔ yī dòng: every movement; each and every move
• 一举两得 一举两得 yī jǔ liǎng dé: one move, two gains (idiom); two birds with one stone
• 一般 一般 yī bān: same
• 一般来说 一般来说 yī bān lái shuō: generally speaking
• 一行 一行 yī xíng: party
• 一言一行 一言一行 yī yán yī xíng: every word and action (idiom)
• 一言不发 一言不发 yī yán bù fā: to not say a word (idiom)
• 一贯 一贯 yī guàn: consistent
• 一起 一起 yī qǐ: in the same place
• 一路 一路 yī lù: the whole journey
• 一路上 一路上 yī lù shàng: along the way
• 一路平安 一路平安 yī lù píng ān: to have a pleasant journey
• 一路顺风 一路顺风 yī lù shùn fēng: to have a pleasant journey (idiom)
• 一身 一身 yī shēn: whole body
• 一辈子 一辈子 yī bèi zi: (for) a lifetime
• 一连 一连 yī lián: in a row
• 一连串 一连串 yī lián chuàn: a succession of
• 一道 一道 yī dào: together
• 一边 一边 yī biān: one side
• 一部分 一部分 yī bù fen: portion
• 一锅粥 一锅粥 yī guō zhōu: (lit.) a pot of porridge
• 一长一短 一长一短 yī cháng yī duǎn: talking endlessly; long-winded
• 一阵 一阵 yī zhèn: a burst
• 一面 一面 yī miàn: one side
• 一头 一头 yī tóu: one head
• 一体 一体 yī tǐ: an integral whole
• 一点点 一点点 yī diǎn diǎn: a little bit
• 一鼓作气 一鼓作气 yī gǔ zuò qì: in a spurt of energy
• 一齐 一齐 yī qí: at the same time
• 下一代 下一代 xià yī dài: the next generation
• 不一定 不一定 bù yī dìng: not necessarily
• 不屑一顾 不屑一顾 bù xiè yī gù: to disdain as beneath contempt (idiom)
• 之一 之一 zhī yī: one of (sth)
• 千钧一发 千钧一发 qiān jūn yī fà: a thousand pounds hangs by a thread (idiom)
• 另一方面 另一方面 lìng yī fāng miàn: on the other hand
• 同一 同一 tóng yī: identical
• 唯一 唯一 wéi yī: only; sole
• 单一 单一 dān yī: single
• 大吃一惊 大吃一惊 dà chī yī jīng: to have a surprise (idiom); shocked or startled
• 如一 如一 rú yī: consistent
• 日复一日 日复一日 rì fù yī rì: day after day
• 有朝一日 有朝一日 yǒu zhāo yī rì: one day
• 独一无二 独一无二 dú yī wú èr: unique and unmatched (idiom); unrivalled
• 第一 第一 dì yī: first
• 第一手 第一手 dì yī shǒu: first-hand
• 第一线 第一线 dì yī xiàn: front line
• 统一 统一 tǒng yī: to unify; to integrate
• 耳目一新 耳目一新 ěr mù yī xīn: a pleasant change
• 举一反三 举一反三 jǔ yī fǎn sān: to raise one and infer three
• 万一 万一 wàn yī: just in case
• 万无一失 万无一失 wàn wú yī shī: surefire; absolutely safe (idiom)
• 这样一来 这样一来 zhè yàng yī lái: thus
• 进一步 进一步 jìn yī bù: to go a step further
• 难得一见 难得一见 nán dé yī jiàn: rarely seen
• 灵机一动 灵机一动 líng jī yī dòng: a bright idea suddenly occurs (idiom); to hit upon an inspiration
• 一中原则 一中原则 yī zhōng yuán zé: One-China principle, the official doctrine that Taiwan is a province of China
• 一一映射 一一映射 yī yī yìng shè: bijective map (i.e. map between sets in math. that is one-to-one and onto)
• 一个半 一个半 yī ge bàn: one and a half
• 一世 一世 yī shì: generation
• 一代不如一代 一代不如一代 yī dài bù rú yī dài: to be getting worse with each generation
• 一丁不识 一丁不识 yī dīng bù shí: illiterate
• 一介不取 一介不取 yī jiè bù qǔ: to not even take a penny (as a bribe)
• 一丘之貉 一丘之貉 yī qiū zhī hé: jackals of the same tribe (idiom); fig. They are all just as bad as each other.
• 一来 一来 yī lái: firstly, ...
• 一下 一下 yī xià: (used after a verb) give it a go
• 一个劲 一个劲 yī gè jìn: continuously
• 一了百了 一了百了 yī liǎo bǎi liǎo: once the main problem is solved, all troubles are solved
• 一之为甚 一之为甚 yī zhī wéi shèn: once is more than enough (idiom)
• 一丁点 一丁点 yī dīng diǎn: a tiny bit
• 一五一十 一五一十 yī wǔ yī shí: lit. count by fives and tens (idiom); to narrate systematically and in full detail
• 一个人 一个人 yī gè rén: by oneself (without assistance)
• 一个中国政策 一个中国政策 yī gè zhōng guó zhèng cè: one-China policy
• 一来二去 一来二去 yī lái èr qù: gradually
• 一个个 一个个 yī gè gè: each and every one
• 一之谓甚 一之谓甚 yī zhī wèi shèn: see 一之為甚|一之为甚[yī zhī wéi shèn]
• 一二 一二 yī èr: one or two; a few
• 一不做，二不休 一不做，二不休 yī bù zuò , èr bù xiū: lit. either don't do it, or don't rest (idiom)
• 一二八事变 一二八事变 yī èr bā shì biàn: Shanghai Incident of 28th January 1932, Chinese uprising against Japanese quarters of Shanghai
• 一一对应 一一对应 yī yī duì yìng: one-to-one correspondence
• 一人得道，鸡犬升天 一人得道，鸡犬升天 yī rén dé dào , jī quǎn shēng tiān: lit. when a man achieves the Dao, his poultry and dogs rise to Heaven (idiom)
• 一二九运动 一二九运动 yī èr jiǔ yùn dòng: December 9th Movement (1935), student-led demonstrations demanding that the Chinese government resist Japanese aggression
• 一并 一并 yī bìng: to lump together
• 一个萝卜一个坑 一个萝卜一个坑 yī gè luó bo yī gè kēng: lit. every turnip to its hole (idiom)
• 一切就绪 一切就绪 yī qiè jiù xù: everything in its place and ready (idiom)
• 一倡三叹 一倡三叹 yī chàng sān tàn: (of literature, music) deeply moving (idiom)
• 一则 一则 yī zé: on the one hand
• 一切事物 一切事物 yī qiè shì wù: everything
• 一分熟 一分熟 yī fēn shú: rare (of steak)
• 一元论 一元论 yī yuán lùn: monism, belief that the universe is made of a single substance
• 一个将军一个令 一个将军一个令 yī gè jiāng jūn yī gè lìng: lit. one general, one order (idiom)
• 一价 一价 yī jià: monovalent (chemistry)
• 一个巴掌拍不响 一个巴掌拍不响 yī ge bā zhǎng pāi bù xiǎng: lit. one palm alone cannot clap (proverb)
• 一反常态 一反常态 yī fǎn cháng tài: complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
• 一匙 一匙 yī chí: spoonful
• 一个接一个 一个接一个 yī ge jiē yī ge: one by one
• 一分钱一分货 一分钱一分货 yī fēn qián yī fēn huò: nothing for nothing
• 一刀两断 一刀两断 yī dāo liǎng duàn: lit. two segments with a single cut (idiom)
• 一切向钱看 一切向钱看 yī qiè xiàng qián kàn: to put money above everything else
• 一去不复返 一去不复返 yī qù bù fù fǎn: gone forever
• 一个样 一个样 yī ge yàng: see 一樣|一样[yī yàng]
• 一半天 一半天 yī bàn tiān: in a day or two
• 一元复始 一元复始 yī yuán fù shǐ: a new year begins (idiom)
• 一侧化 一侧化 yī cè huà: lateralization
• 一千零一夜 一千零一夜 yī qiān líng yī yè: The Book of One Thousand and One Nights
• 一口 一口 yī kǒu: readily
• 一则以喜，一则以忧 一则以喜，一则以忧 yī zé yǐ xǐ , yī zé yǐ yōu: happy on the one hand, but worried on the other (idiom)
• 一分钱两分货 一分钱两分货 yī fēn qián liǎng fēn huò: high quality at bargain price
• 一切如旧 一切如旧 yī qiè rú jiù: everything as before
• 一刀切 一刀切 yī dāo qiē: lit. to cut all at one stroke (idiom); to impose uniformity
• 一个天南，一个地北 一个天南，一个地北 yī ge tiān nán , yī ge dì běi: to live miles apart (idiom)
• 一传十，十传百 一传十，十传百 yī chuán shí , shí chuán bǎi: news pass quickly from mouth to mouth (idiom)
• 一劳永逸 一劳永逸 yī láo yǒng yì: to get sth done once and for all
• 一分耕耘，一分收获 一分耕耘，一分收获 yī fēn gēng yún , yī fēn shōu huò: you get what you put in
• 一反往常 一反往常 yī fǎn wǎng cháng: contrary to usual
• 一元 一元 yī yuán: single variable (math.)
• 一去无影踪 一去无影踪 yī qù wú yǐng zōng: gone without a trace
• 一分一毫 一分一毫 yī fēn yī háo: a tiny bit (idiom)
• 一元化 一元化 yī yuán huà: integration
• 一刻千金 一刻千金 yī kè qiān jīn: every minute counts
• 一个幽灵在欧洲游荡 一个幽灵在欧洲游荡 yī gè yōu líng zài ōu zhōu yóu dàng: Ein Gespenst geht um in Europa.
• 一元醇 一元醇 yī yuán chún: methyl alcohol CH3OH
• 一切险 一切险 yī qiè xiǎn: all risks (insurance)
• 一分为二 一分为二 yī fēn wéi èr: one divides into two
• 一去不回 一去不回 yī qù bù huí: gone forever
• 一口吃不成胖子 一口吃不成胖子 yī kǒu chī bù chéng pàng zi: lit. you cannot get fat with only one mouthful (proverb)
• 一呼百应 一呼百应 yī hū bǎi yìng: a hundred answers to a single call (idiom)
• 一品锅 一品锅 yī pǐn guō: dish containing a variety of meats and vegetables arranged in a broth in a clay pot
• 一口咬定 一口咬定 yī kǒu yǎo dìng: to arbitrarily assert
• 一句 一句 yī jù: a line of verse
• 一周 一周 yī zhōu: one week
• 一块 一块 yī kuài: one block
• 一夔已足 一夔已足 yī kuí yǐ zú: one talented person is enough for the job (idiom)