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:

一目で彼女に惚れた。

Hitome de kanojo ni horeta

I fell in love with her at first glance.

I fell in love with her quickly.

• 一目 - - "first sight"
• で - - particle that indicates the means or method used
• 彼女 - - "girlfriend"
• に - - Particle indicating the target of the action
• 惚れた - - "passionate"

ゼロは数字の一つです。

Zero wa suuji no hitotsu desu

Zero is one of the numbers.

• ゼロ - Zero
• は - partícula que indica o tópico da frase
• 数字 - number
• の - possessive particle
• 一つ - um
• です - copula que indica polidez

たった一人で山に登った。

Tatta hitori de yama ni nobotta

I climbed the mountain alone.

I climbed the mountain alone.

• たった - adverb that means "just" or "only"
• 一人 - noun that means "a person" or "alone"
• で - particle that indicates the medium or instrument used to perform an action
• 山 - noun that means "mountain"
• に - particle that indicates the target or destination of an action
• 登った - verb in the past that means "to climb" or "to scale"

トランジスターは電子部品の一種です。

Toranjisutaa wa denshi buhin no issu desu

Transistor is a type of electronic component.

• トランジスター - transistor
• は - partícula que indica o tópico da frase
• 電子部品 - electronic components
• の - particle possession indicating or association
• 一種 - one type
• です - is (copulation)

バーで一杯飲みたいです。

Baa de ippai nomitai desu

I want to have a drink at a bar.

I want to drink a cup at the bar.

• バー (bā) - bar
• で (de) - at
• 一杯 (ippai) - one glass
• 飲みたい (nomitai) - want to drink
• です (desu) - is

ビールスはウイルスの一種です。

Bīrusu wa uirusu no issu desu

Virus is a type of virus.

The virus is a type of virus.

• ビールス - "virus" in Japanese
• は - Topic particle
• ウイルス - "virus" in Japanese (written in katakana)
• の - Possessive particle
• 一種 - "um tipo de"
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese

ほっと一息つく

Hotto isshoku tsuku

It means "Take a deep breath and relax".

Give a break

• ほっと - Japanese expression that indicates relief, relaxation
• 一息 - Japanese expression meaning "a sigh", "a breath"
• つく - Japanese verb that means "rest", "stop".

一人で行く。

Hitori de iku

I go alone.

Go alone.

• 一人 - means "alone" or "alone" (feminine).
• で - is a particle that indicates the means or way in which something is done. In this case, it indicates that the person is going alone.
• 行く - means "to go".

一つの夢がある。

hitotsu no yume ga aru

There is a dream.

• 一つ - I'm sorry, but I need the text you would like me to translate. Please provide the content for translation.
• の - of
• 夢 - Dream
• が - subject
• ある - exists

一体何が起こったのか？

Ittai nani ga okotta no ka?

What happened?

• 一体 - It means "after all" or "in the end."
• 何 - it means "what"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 起こった - "ocorrer" no passado = "happen" in the past
• の - Particle that indicates a question
• か - Particle that indicates a question