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:

三人の友達と一緒に遊ぶ。

Mittsu no tomodachi to issho ni asobu

Play with three friends.

Play with three friends.

• 三人 - three people
• の - Possession particle
• 友達 - friends
• と - connecting particle
• 一緒に - together
• 遊ぶ - Play

今度は一緒に行きましょう。

Kondo wa issho ni ikimashou

Let's go together this time.

• 今度 - "this time"
• は - Topic particle
• 一緒に - Together
• 行きましょう - "let's go"

共学は男女が一緒に学ぶ学校です。

Kyōgaku wa danjo ga issho ni manabu gakkō desu

Co-education is a school where men and women learn together.

• 共学 - means "mixed education", that is, schools where boys and girls study together.
• 男女 - means "men and women".
• 一緒に - means "together".
• 学ぶ - means "to study".
• 学校 - means "school".

単一の原因が特定されていない。

Tanjitsu no gen'in ga tokutei sarete inai

The single cause has not been identified.

• 単一の - means "unique" or "singular" in Japanese.
• 原因 - means "cause" or "reason" in Japanese.
• が - It is a Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 特定されていない - is a verb in the negative passive form that means "has not been identified" or "has not been determined" in Japanese.

合成は化学反応の一つです。

Gōsei wa kagaku hannō no hitotsu desu

Synthesis is one of the chemical reactions.

• 合成 - means "synthesis" in Japanese.
• は - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 化学反応 - means "chemical reaction" in Japanese.
• の - is a grammatical particle that indicates the relationship of possession or belonging.
• 一つ - means "one" in Japanese.
• です - It is a polite way to say "is" in Japanese.

唯一の愛

Yuiitsu no ai

Only love.

Just love

• 唯一 (yuiitsu) - means "unique" or "the only one"
• の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 愛 (ai) - means "love"

問答は人生の一部です。

Mondou wa jinsei no ichibu desu

Questions and answers are part of life.

• 問答 - "questions and answers"
• は - It is a topic marking particle in Japanese.
• 人生 - Means "life" in Japanese.
• の - it is a possessive particle in Japanese.
• 一部 - "part" in Japanese.
• です - is a polite way of saying "ser" or "estar" in Japanese.

好き好きな人と一緒にいると幸せです。

Suki suki na hito to issho ni iru to shiawase desu

I'm happy to be with my favorite person.

• 好き好きな人と - With the person I like
• 一緒に - Together
• いる - Be
• と - With
• 幸せです - And happy

巡査は警察官の一種です。

Junsa wa keisatsukan no issu desu

Junsa is a type of police officer.

The police are a type of police.

• 巡査 - police officer
• は - Topic particle
• 警察官 - Oficial de polícia
• の - Possession particle
• 一種 - um tipo de
• です - is

工芸は日本の伝統文化の一つです。

Kōgei wa Nihon no dentō bunka no hitotsu desu

Crafts are one of the traditional Japanese cultures.

• 工芸 - Craftsmanship
• は - Topic particle
• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possessive particle
• 伝統 - Tradition
• 文化 - Culture
• の - Possessive particle
• 一つ - I’m sorry, but I cannot assist with that.
• です - Ser/estar (linking verb)