1. number one
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Quantity
    Notes: In this sense, 一 is used in counting items (Guoyu '一' n 1; Kroll 2015 '一' 1, p. 540; NCCED '一' 1; Ho 2002, '一' 1; Rouzer 2007; p. 14). For example, 一个中心 'one center.' (Xinhua Net, 2015-12-25) Tone sandhi 变调 modifies yī to yì when it is followed by a first, second or third tone. For example, 一年 yì nián 'one year'. Also, yī becomes yì when it is followed by a fourth tone. For exmaple, 一条 yì tiáo 'one strand' (Sun 2006, loc. 545). 一 is the 2nd most common word in the 1985 Beijing Language Insititue frequency wordlist (Ho 2002, '一').
  2. noun Kangxi radical 1
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Radicals
    Notes: (ABC back cover; GHC p. 7)
  3. adverb as soon as; all at once
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Concept: Correlative 关联词
    Notes: This adverb is often used as a connecting word in the subordinate clause of subordinate complex sentences. It is often used in the pattern 一…,就… to express that if a certain condition is met the result will surely follow (Guoyu '一' adv 1; Kroll 2015 '一' 4, p. 540; NCCED '一' 9; Ho 2002, '一' 2; Li Shaoqi, 2003, pp. 194-195). For example, 一出来,才晓得自己的错误 'As soon as he came out, he realized his own mistake.' (Lao She, 2003, p. 260)
  4. adjective pure; concentrated
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: (Guoyu '一' adj 3; Kroll 2015 '一' 2, p. 540; NCCED '一' 4)
  5. adverb whole; all
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: In this sense, 一 is placed in front of nouns to indicate a complete unit (Guoyu '一' adj 4; Kroll 2015 '一' 3, p. 540; NCCED '一' 3; Ho 2002, '一' 3). For example, 一冬天 'throughout the whole winter.' (Lao She, 2003, p. 221)
  6. ordinal first
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Quantity
    Notes: (Rouzer 2007; p. 14)
  7. adjective the same
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: In the sense of 一样 (Guoyu '一' adj 2; Kroll 2015 '一' 2b, p. 540; NCCED '一' 2)
  8. adverb each
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: In the sense of 每 (Guoyu '一' adv 5; NCCED '一' 5)
  9. pronoun certain
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: (NCCED '一' 6)
  10. adverb throughout
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: (NCCED '一' 8) For example, 前前后后的一想 'thought about it for a while.' (Lao She, 2003, p. 218; Li Shaoqi, 2003, pp. 195)
  11. adverb used in between a reduplicated verb
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: (Guoyu '一' adv 6; NCCED '一' 10) For example, 烤一烤 'heat up.' (Lao She, 2003, p. 216)
  12. adjective sole; single
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: (Guoyu '一' adj 1; Kroll 2015 '一' 1a, p. 540)
  13. adjective a very small amount
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: (Kroll 2015 '一' 1b, p. 540)
  14. proper noun Yi
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Names , Concept: Surname 姓氏
    Notes: (Guoyu '一' n 2)
  15. adjective other
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes: (Guoyu '一' n 7)
  16. verb to unify
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes: (Guoyu '一' v)
  17. verb accidentally; coincidentally
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes: In the sense of 偶然 (Guoyu '一' adv 2)
  18. verb abruptly; suddenly
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes: In the sense of 偶然 (Guoyu '一' adv 3)
  19. conjunction or
    Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
    Notes: In the sense of 或 (Guoyu '一' conj)
  20. number one; eka
    Domain: Buddhism 佛教
    Notes: Sanskrit equivalent: eka, Tibetan: gcig, Japanese: ichi; for example 一乘 ekayāna 'one vehicle' (BCSD '一', p. 1; DJBT '一', p. 429; Mahāvyutpatti 'ekam'; MW 'eka'; SH '一乘', p. 1)

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