Translation and Meaning of: 一 - ichi

If you are studying Japanese, you have certainly encountered the kanji 一 (いち), which simply means "one". But is this word as simple as it seems? In this article, we will delve into its etymology, its use in everyday Japanese, the meaning behind its unique stroke, and even some curiosities that will help you memorize it for good. Additionally, you will discover how this word appears in common expressions and why it is so important for those who want to master the basics of the language. Here at Suki Nihongo, you will also find practical examples and ready-made sentences to include in your Anki or other spaced repetition systems.

Origin and etymology of the kanji 一

The kanji 一 is one of the oldest and simplest in the Japanese language, directly derived from archaic Chinese. Its form is a unique horizontal line, representing the idea of unity, the first number in counting. Interestingly, this character is so essential that it appears in various other kanjis as a radical component, as in 二 (two) and 三 (three), which follow the same logic of stroke repetition.

In ancient China, writing began with records on bones and turtle shells, and "one" was represented by a single stroke. This simplicity has been maintained throughout the centuries, making it one of the first characters that students learn. If you've ever tried writing it by hand, you know it looks easy, but it requires a certain control to keep the stroke even — a challenge for beginners!

Everyday use and popular expressions

Besides being used alone as a numeral, 一 appears in several useful combinations. For example, 一人 (ひとり) means "one person" or "alone," while 一番 (いちばん) means "the best" or "first place." Anyone who has watched anime or Japanese dramas has certainly heard phrases like 「一番になりたい！」 ("I want to be number one!"). This word is also essential in basic counting, such as 一つ (ひとつ) for objects and 一日 (いちにち) for "one day."

Another interesting use is in proper names. Many Japanese people use 一 in their names to convey the idea of uniqueness or beginning, such as in 一郎 (Ichirō), a common name that carries the meaning of "first son". If you've ever wondered why so many anime characters have "ichi" in their name, now you know the reason!

Tips for memorization and curiosities

A fun way to remember this kanji is to associate it with something that has a single part — imagine a ruler with a single stroke or even a toothpick lying down. If you enjoy word games, it's worth knowing that いち can be used in puns, such as in the catchphrase 「いち、にの、さん！」 ("One, two, three!"), common in children's games. And if you have heard of the game Oicho-Kabu, a traditional Japanese card game, note that "Oicho" comes precisely from "1-2-3" in the old pronunciation.

For beginners, a valuable tip is to pay attention to the stroke order. Although it is just one line, it should be written from left to right, with a clear beginning and end. And if you've ever wondered why sometimes "1" in Japanese is written as １ (western numeral) and other times as 一, the answer is simple: informal contexts often use the numeral, while formal or traditional texts prefer the kanji.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• ひとつ (hitotsu) - One (count of objects)
• いち (ichi) - One (number)
• ひ (hi) - One (only, in some counts)
• かず (kazu) - Number (general)
• ひとり (hitori) - A person
• ひとつき (hitotsuki) - One month (time period)
• ひとあし (hitoashi) - One step
• ひとくち (hitokuchi) - A bite
• ひとくみ (hitokumi) - A set
• ひとづつ (hitodutsu) - One by one
• ひとせ (hitose) - one time
• ひとたび (hitotabi) - Once (in formal contexts)

一

Romaji: ichi
Kana: いち
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: (Num) one

Meaning in English: (num) one

Definition: Number one

Example Sentences - (一) ichi

See below some example sentences:

一言では言い表せない。

Hitokoto de wa iiarawasenai.

It can't be expressed in a single word.

It's hard to put into words.

• 一言 (ひとこと) - One word, short expression
• and - Particle that indicates the means or manner in which something is done
• は - Particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 言い表せない (いいあらわせない) - It can't be expressed, it can't be described

稍微休息一下吧。

Shoumi kyuusoku hitotsu kudasai

Rest a little.

Rest a little.

• 稍微 - a little
• 休息 - rest
• 一下 - for a moment
• 吧 - particle that indicates suggestion or request

心身一如

shinshin ichinyo

body and mind are one.

as the same as

• 心 (kokoro) - means "heart" or "mind"
• 身 (mi) - means "body"
• 一如 (ichinyo) - means "unity" or "equality"

土木工事は大切な社会インフラの一つです。

Doboku kouji wa taisetsu na shakai infra no hitotsu desu

Civil engineering is one of the important social infrastructures.

Civil engineering is one of the important social infrastructure.

• 土木工事 - Construction
• は - Topic particle
• 大切な - Important
• 社会 - Society
• インフラ - Infrastructure
• の - Possessive particle
• 一つ - I’m sorry, but I cannot assist with that.
• です - To be

領事は外交官の一員です。

Ryōji wa gaikōkan no ichiin desu

The consul is a member of the diplomatic corps.

The consular is a member of the diplomat.

• 領事 - Consul
• は - Topic particle
• 外交官 - Diplomat
• の - Possessive particle
• 一員 - Member
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

酸化は化学反応の一つです。

Sanka wa kagaku hannou no hitotsu desu

Oxidation is one of the types of chemical reactions.

Oxidation is one of the chemical reactions.

• 酸化 - means oxidation in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 化学反応 - means chemical reaction in Japanese
• の - Possession particle in Japanese
• 一つ - means one in Japanese
• です - verb to be in Japanese

鉱物は地球上で見つかる多くの貴重な資源の一つです。

Koumotsu wa chikyuu jou de mitsukaru ooku no kichou na shigen no hitotsu desu

Minerals are one of the many valuable resources found on Earth.

Minerals are one of the many valuable resources found on Earth.

• 鉱物 - mineral
• は - Partícula que indica o tópico da frase
• 地球上 - on Earth
• で - Article indicating the location where something happens
• 見つかる - To be found
• 多く - Many
• の - Partícula que indica posse ou atribuição
• 貴重な - Valuable
• 資源 - Recurso
• の - Partícula que indica posse ou atribuição
• 一つ - One
• です - Copula que indica cortesia ou formalidade

陸上競技は私の一番好きなスポーツです。

Rikujō kyōgi wa watashi no ichiban sukina supōtsu desu

Athletics is my favorite sport.

• 陸上競技 - athletics
• は - Topic particle
• 私 - I
• の - Possessive particle
• 一番 - Number one
• 好き - Like
• な - adjective particle
• スポーツ - sport
• です - to be (polite form)

風俗は日本の文化の一部です。

Fūzoku wa Nihon no bunka no ichibu desu

Customs is part of Japanese culture.

• 風俗 - costumes/traditions
• は - Topic particle
• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 文化 - culture
• の - Possession particle
• 一部 - part
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

一律の処理を行います。

Ichiritsu no shori wo okonaimasu

We will carry out uniform processing.

Perform uniform processing.

• 一律の - It means "uniform" or "equal" in Japanese.
• 処理 - It means "processing" or "handling" in Japanese.
• を - Object particle in Japanese.
• 行います - means "to perform" or "to execute" in Japanese.