How to say “one (1)” in Chinese
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Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
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On its own and when counting, 一 is yī (first tone). In phrases it changes: yì before tones 1/2/3, yí before a fourth tone. See tone sandhi.
In a sentence
Wǒ yào yì bēi shuǐ.
I'd like one glass of water.
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
How do you say "one (1)" in Chinese?+
"one (1)" in Mandarin Chinese is 一, pronounced yī. On its own and when counting, 一 is yī (first tone). In phrases it changes: yì before tones 1/2/3, yí before a fourth tone. See tone sandhi.
What does 一 mean literally?+
一 breaks down as 一 (yī) = one. Together it means "one (1)".
How do I get the tones right in yī?+
On its own and when counting, 一 is yī (first tone). In phrases it changes: yì before tones 1/2/3, yí before a fourth tone. See tone sandhi.
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What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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See all the phrases on the how to say things in Chinese index, or read how to learn Mandarin tones.