いち
ichinoun★Beginner
formal
one (number)
これは一です。
This is one.
💡
Used as a standalone number or in counting.
formal
first (ordinal number)
一位は田中さんです。
The first place is Mr. Tanaka.
💡
When used as an ordinal number, it is often written as '第一' (daiichi).
Collocations
一番number one, the best一緒にtogether
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
一石二鳥idiom
kill two birds with one stone
💡Pro Tip
Counting Practice
Use 'いち' when counting in sequence, but 'ひとつ' when counting objects.
⚡Gold Rule
Ordinal Usage
For ordinal numbers, use '第一' (daiichi) instead of 'いち'.
📖Word Origin
Derived from the Sino-Japanese numeral for 'one', originating from Middle Chinese.
📝Usage Notes
In modern Japanese, 'いち' is often used in counting and numbering, while 'ひとつ' is more common for counting objects.
Word Breakdown
いち
one
root✎ Noted on May 2, 2026JA → EN