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)

Related words

唯一

yuiitsu

only; solo; unique

一休み

hitoyasumi

a rest

一人でに

hitorideni

by itself; automatically; naturally

一人一人

hitorihitori

one by one; each; one at a time

一息

hitoiki

swollen; one breath; a pause; an effort

一頃

hitokoro

once; some time ago

一筋

hitosuki

a line; sincerely; blindly; direct

一つ

hitotsu

I'm sorry, but I need the text you would like me to translate. Please provide the content for translation.

一通り

hitotoori

ordinary; usual; in general; briefly

一まず

hitomazu

by present; once; sketchy

一

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

Translation / Meaning: (Num) one

Meaning in English: (num) one

Definition: Number one

Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (一) ichi

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (一) ichi:

Example Sentences - (一) ichi

See below some example sentences:

締め切りまであと一週間です。

Shimekiri made ato ichi shuukan desu

It's just a week before the deadline.

締め切り (shimekiri) - deadline
まで (made) - up until
あと (ato) - outstanding
一週間 (isshukan) - A week
です (desu) - is

脳は人間の最も重要な器官の一つです。

Nou wa ningen no mottomo juuyou na kikan no hitotsu desu

The brain is one of the most important organs of human beings.

脳 (nou) - brain
は (wa) - Topic particle
人間 (ningen) - Human being
の (no) - Possessive particle
最も (mottomo) - the most
重要な (juuyouna) - important
器官 (kikan) - organ
の (no) - Possessive particle
一つ (hitotsu) - I'm sorry, but I need the text you would like me to translate. Please provide the content for translation.
です (desu) - to be

腸は消化器官の一つです。

Chou wa shoukakikann no hitotsu desu

The intestine is one of the digestive organs.

The intestines are one of the digestive organs.

腸 (chou) - intestine
は (wa) - Topic particle
消化器官 (shoukakikan) - digestive organ
の (no) - Possession particle
一つ (hitotsu) - I'm sorry, but I need the text you would like me to translate. Please provide the content for translation.
です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

舞台は役者たちの人生の一部です。

Butai wa yakushatachi no jinsei no ichibu desu

The stage is part of the lives of actors.

舞台 (butai) - stage
は (wa) - Topic particle
役者 (yakusha) - actors/actresses
たち (tachi) - suffix to indicate plurality
の (no) - Possession particle
人生 (jinsei) - life
の (no) - Possession particle
一部 (ichibu) - part
です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

良い一日を過ごしてください。

Yoi ichinichi wo sugoshite kudasai

Have a good day.

良い (yoi) - good
一日 (ichinichi) - um dia
を (wo) - direct object particle
過ごして (sugoshite) - spend time)
ください (kudasai) - please (imperative form)

視覚は人間の五感の一つです。

Shikaku wa ningen no gokan no hitotsu desu

Vision is one of the five human senses.

Visuals are one of the five senses of human beings.

視覚 (shikaku) - Vision
は (wa) - Topic particle
人間 (ningen) - Human being
の (no) - Possessive particle
五感 (gokan) - Five senses
の (no) - Possessive particle
一つ (hitotsu) - I’m sorry, but I cannot assist with that.
です (desu) - Verb ser/estar (polite form)

課税は国の財源の一つです。

Kazei wa kuni no zaigen no hitotsu desu

The tax is one of the national financial resources.

課税 - means "tax" in Japanese.
は - Topic particle in Japanese, which indicates the subject of the sentence.
国 - "País" significa "国" (kuni) em japonês.
の - particle of possession in Japanese, which indicates that "財源" belongs to "国".
財源 - means "source of income" in Japanese.
の - particle of possession in Japanese, which indicates that "一つ" belongs to "財源".
一つ - means "one" in Japanese, indicating that "財源" is one of the country's sources of income.
です - verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating that the sentence is a statement.