一
我有一本书。
I have one book.
The cardinal number one, representing a single unit or entity.
这是第一次见面。
This is the first time we meet.
他只有一个孩子。
He has only one child.
In Chinese, '一' is often used as a numeral and can also function as an adverb meaning 'once' or 'a little'.
Used as an adverb to mean 'a little' or 'once'.
我一看就知道了。
I knew it at a glance.
他一笑就变得很可爱。
He becomes very cute when he smiles.
In this usage, '一' modifies a verb to indicate a single action or a small amount.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Numeral Usage
'一' is used to count and represent the number one. It is often used with classifiers, such as '一本书' (one book) or '一个人' (one person).
Adverbial Usage
When used as an adverb, '一' can modify a verb to indicate a single action or a small quantity, such as '一看' (at a glance) or '一笑' (a smile).
Component in Characters
'一' is a common component in many Chinese characters, often representing the concept of 'one' or 'single'. For example, '单' (single) and '唯一' (unique) both contain '一'.
Gold Rule
Numeral and Adverb
'一' can function as both a numeral and an adverb. As a numeral, it represents the number one, and as an adverb, it can indicate a single action or a small quantity.
Classifier Usage
When '一' is used as a numeral, it is often followed by a classifier, such as '一本书' (one book) or '一个人' (one person).
Component in Characters
'一' is a common component in many Chinese characters, often representing the concept of 'one' or 'single'. For example, '单' (single) and '唯一' (unique) both contain '一'.
Word Origin
The character '一' is one of the simplest and oldest Chinese characters, originating from ancient pictographs representing a single line or stroke. It is a fundamental numeral in Chinese and has been used for thousands of years.
Usage Notes
'一' is a versatile character that can function as a numeral, an adverb, and a component in many other characters. It is often used in counting and can also indicate a single instance of an action or a small quantity.