Chinese · Numbers & Time
一
yī
One
Beginnernumeral
Definition
The number one.
Example
我要一杯咖啡。
I want one cup of coffee.
Etymology
'一' (yī) means 'one' and is derived from the ancient Chinese numeral system, serving as a fundamental number in both written and spoken language.
How & Where It’s Used
'一' is universally used across all registers and contexts in Mandarin, both formally and informally, for various purposes like counting and indicating quantity.