一 Stroke Order — How to Write 一
一 is written in 1 stroke, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 一, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
一 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- yī
Meanings of 一 in Chinese
1
yī一
One; the smallest positive integer (often written as '壹' on banknotes and official documents).
这件衣服只要一块钱。
This piece of clothing only costs one yuan.
Pure; exclusive; single-minded (as in 'focused' or 'wholehearted').
她学习很专一，总是能把注意力集中在课本上。
She is very focused on her studies and can always concentrate on her textbooks.
Whole; entire; full (indicating completeness of time or space)
他用一生来追求自己的梦想。
He spent his entire life pursuing his dream.
Used to express sameness or uniformity, as in '一样' (the same).
这两本书的封面设计完全一样。
The cover designs of these two books are exactly the same.
Another; an alternative designation or name, often used in phrases like '一名' (yī míng - also called) or '一称' (yī chēng - also known as).
这种植物，一称夜来香
This plant is also known as 'Night-blooming Jasmine'.
Indicates a brief, single, or tentative action, often used in reduplicated verbs.
我们休息一下，去公园走一走吧。
Let's take a break and go for a walk in the park.
Used to emphasize an extreme or irreversible outcome, often implying 'as soon as... then...' or 'to such a degree'.
他竟然会一病不起
He actually fell ill and never recovered.
To bring together, unite, or make uniform into a whole, as in 'unified' or 'neat and uniform'.
大家把桌面整理得整齐划一，看起来舒服多了。
Everyone tidied up their desks to be neat and uniform, and it looks much more comfortable.
Used in a 'one... one...' structure to indicate two contrasting or alternating states, actions, or outcomes, such as 'one asks, one answers' or 'one win, one loss'.
他们俩一直保持着一问一答的交流方式。
The two of them have always maintained a question-and-answer style of communication.
First time; initial; immediately upon; as soon as.
他们俩性格很合得来，第一次见面就一拍即合。
Their personalities are very compatible; they hit it off immediately at their first meeting.
In ancient Chinese music notation, 'yī' represents a musical note, equivalent to the low '7' in simplified notation.
这首曲子中，'一'音是低音部分的关键
In this piece of music, the 'yī' note is key to the bass part.
Common Words and Phrases with 一
1
The top leader or head of an organization; the principal person in charge.
公司面临挑战时，总经理作为一把手，承担了重大的决策责任。
When the company faced challenges, the general manager, as the top leader, bore significant decision-making responsibilities.
2
obstinate; stubborn; rigid and unwilling to adapt
他在工作中总是喜欢一把死拿，不肯尝试新的解决方案，导致效率很低。
In his work, he always rigidly sticks to old methods, unwilling to try new solutions, which results in very low efficiency.
3
To take everything into one's own hands, managing many tasks simultaneously and often without distinguishing their importance.
新来的部门负责人什么事情都想一把抓，让团队成员感到缺乏自主权。
The new department head wants to handle everything personally, making team members feel a lack of autonomy.
4
to suffer a crushing defeat; to be utterly defeated
因为资金链断裂，那个雄心勃勃的项目最终一败涂地，让所有人都感到惋惜
Due to the collapse of the funding chain, that ambitious project ultimately ended in utter failure, leaving everyone disappointed.
5
A small part that gives a glimpse or indication of the whole.
从他对待小动物的温柔态度中，我们可以窥见他善良本性的一斑
From his gentle attitude towards small animals, we can catch a glimpse of his kind nature.
6
General, ordinary, common; generally; usually.
我一般早上八点开始工作。
I usually start working at eight in the morning.
7
Shallow views or understanding; to stoop to a common or petty level.
你没必要跟那些没有深度的人一般见识。
You don't need to stoop to the level of those shallow people.
8
To be scrupulous and methodical; to do things in a well-regulated, orderly, and precise manner.
这位老木匠干活儿从来都是一板三眼，每一步都精益求精
This old carpenter always works methodically and meticulously, striving for perfection in every step.
9
To be scrupulous and methodical in one's actions or speech; strictly following a pattern.
他做事情总是一板一眼，每个步骤都严格按照规定来，从不马虎。
He always does things in a meticulous and precise manner, strictly following the rules for each step, never cutting corners.
10
11
12
To work by fits and starts; to make sporadic efforts but lack perseverance and consistency.
学习任何新技能都需要持之以恒，如果一暴十寒，是很难取得真正进步的。
Learning any new skill requires persistence; if you only put in intermittent effort, it's difficult to make real progress.
13
A share of profits or benefits; a piece of the pie.
这家新开的咖啡馆生意火爆，附近的小吃店都想来分一杯羹。
This newly opened coffee shop is doing a booming business, and the snack shops nearby all want to get a piece of the pie.
14
15
to lend a helping hand; to give a hand
当我需要帮助时，我的朋友总是愿意助我一臂之力
My friends are always willing to lend me a hand when I need help.
More words with 一
- wéi唯yī一Sole; only one.
- zhú逐yī一one by one; one after another
- huà划yī一Uniform; standardized; consistent.
- jūn均yī一even; uniform; homogeneous
- wéi惟yī一only; sole
- piē瞥yì一yǎn眼take a glance, a quick look
- ǒu偶yī一Occasionally; once in a while.
- dān单dǎ打yī一Focus on a single item, Single out
- yì一bǎ把a handful, a handle
- yì一bēi杯a cup, a drink
- yì一běn本one book, a copy
- yì一bǐ笔a sum, a stroke
- yì一biān边while, at the same time
- yí一biàn遍once, one time
- yí一bù步a step, one step
- yí一bù部a part, one
- yì一céng层A layer, The first floor
- yì一chǎng场a game, a match
- yí一chuàn串string, bunch
- yí一cì次one time, once
Idioms with 一
- yī一bài败rú如shuǐ水utterly routed like spilled water
- yī一běn本wàn万lì利small investment, huge profit
- yī一běn本zhèng正jīng经to be scrupulously proper, grave, and serious
- yī一bí鼻zi子huī灰meet with a rebuff
- yī一bǐ笔bù不gǒu苟meticulous in every detail
- yī一bǐ笔gōu勾xiāo消cancel completely
- yī一bǐ笔gōu勾xiāo销cancel completely with a single stroke
- yī一bǐ笔mǒ抹shā杀negate everything with one stroke
- yī一bǐ笔mǒ抹shā煞to negate all achievements with one stroke
- yī一biǎo表fēi非fán凡exceptionally striking in looks and demeanor
- yī一biǎo表rén人cái才a strikingly handsome and refined individual
- yī一bìng病bù不qǐ起fall ill and never recover
Recommended tools
Writing Worksheets
Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
Open the tool →
Picture Worksheets
Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets
Open the tool →
Stroke Order Animator
Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
Open the tool →
Character Highlight Animator
Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
Open the tool →Questions about 一
What does 一 mean in Chinese?
一 (yī) means “One” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 一?
一 is pronounced yī in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 一 have?
一 has 1 stroke.
How do you write 一?
一 is written in 1 stroke, starting from the radical 一. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 一?
The radical of 一 is 一, and 一 is an ideographic compound.
