For Chinese learners, the easiest character to write is undoubtedly the number “one” – a single horizontal line: 一.
But don’t let its simplicity fool you! Pronouncing it correctly can be tricky.
In this post, we’ll uncover 4 essential rules to help you master the pronunciation of this seemingly simple character and boost your Chinese accuracy today!
Pronouncing 一 as yī (1st tone)
When 一 is part of a list of numbers, an ordinal number, or used in time or dates, it should be pronounced in the first tone, yī. This high and level tone is essential for clear communication in these contexts.
Example:
1234: 一二三四 (yī èr sān sì)
First: 第一 (dì yī)
Monday: 星期一 (xīng qī yī)
January 1st: 一月一日 (yī yuè yī rì)
When a word ends with 一, it should also be pronounced in the first tone. For instance:
only: 唯一 (wéi yī)
one-quarter: 四分之一 (sì fēn zhī yī)
Pronouncing 一 as yí (2nd tone)
When 一 is followed by a fourth-tone syllable, it needs to be pronounced in the second tone, yí. This rising tone is crucial for proper pronunciation in these scenarios.
Example:
one half: 一半 (yí bàn)
altogether: 一共 (yí gòng)
(do something) briefly: 一下 (yí xià)
Pronouncing 一 as yì (4th tone)
When 一 is followed by a first, second, or third-tone syllable, it should be pronounced in the fourth tone, yì. This sharp, falling tone is likely the most common pronunciation you’ll encounter for 一.
Example:
a day: 一天 (yì tiān)
a year: 一年 (yì nián)
one hundred: 一百 (yì bǎi)
Pronouncing 一 as yāo
When saying phone numbers aloud, the number one (1) is typically pronounced as yāo instead of yī (1st tone). This helps distinguish 一 (one) from the number seven (七; qī), as quickly saying 七 can sound like yī, especially over the phone.
Example:
My phone number is 117789.
我的电话号码是 一一七七八九。
(wǒde diànhuà hàomǎ shì yāo yāo qī qī bā jiǔ)
There you have it — 4 simple rules for pronouncing 一 correctly. Keep in mind that dictionaries and textbooks typically use the first tone (yī) to indicate 一’s pronunciation, even when one of the above tone change rules is applicable.
So, make sure to apply these rules whenever you’re learning a new word with 一 in it. Also, pay close attention to native speakers and how they use 一 in conversation.
The more you practice and follow these guidelines, the faster you’ll improve your accuracy in spoken Chinese. Happy learning!
