一
一 is the simplest kanji, meaning ‘one.’ It is a single horizontal stroke representing the number one, and is the foundation of the Japanese number system.
Reading
On’yomi:
イチ (ICHI)、
イツ (ITSU)
Kun’yomi:
ひと- (hito-)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 一 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | one |
| Stroke Count | 1 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
While 一 means the number one, it also appears in expressions meaning ‘first,’ ‘once,’ or ‘the same.’ It is one of the most frequently used kanji in everyday Japanese.
Common Words
-
一つ
（ひとつ）
— one (general counter) -
一番
（いちばん）
— number one, best, most -
一緒に
（いっしょに）
— together -
一日
（いちにち）
— one day; all day -
一週間
（いっしゅうかん）
— one week -
一回
（いっかい）
— one time, once
Example Sentences
-
一番好きな食べ物は何ですか？
いちばんすきなたべものはなんですか？
What is your favorite food?
-
一緒に行きましょう。
いっしょにいきましょう。
Let’s go together.
-
一日に三回食べます。
いちにちにさんかいたべます。
I eat three times a day.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
一 appears in almost every number combination. You will see it in dates, prices, and time expressions from day one. Note that 一 often changes pronunciation in compounds: 一本 (いっぽん), 一回 (いっかい).
Summary
一 means ‘one’ and is the foundation of the Japanese number system, appearing in countless everyday words and expressions.
| Kanji | 一 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | one |
| On’yomi | イチ、イツ (ICHI, ITSU) |
| Kun’yomi | ひと- (hito-) |
| Strokes | 1 |
| JLPT | N5 |