One
一
One
Kun-yomi 🇯🇵:
ひと (つ) - hito (hitotsu)
(Japanese reading)On-yomi 🇨🇳:
イチ (ichi)
/イッー (ittsuu)
(Chinese-derived reading)
Pronunciation rules
- ひとつ (hitotsu) is the kun-yomi when counting things.
- イチ (ichi) and イッー (ittsuu) are the on-yomi readings. イチ is used in compounds like 一月 (いちがつ, ichigatsu: January) or 一日 (いちにち, ichinichi: one day).
- As part of proper names and set phrases, readings may vary; learn common expressions like 一日 (ついたち, tsuitachi: the 1st day of a month).
Examples
Kun-yomiNative Japanese Readings
一 つ ください。
One, please.
Uses kun-yomi ひとつ (hitotsu) when counting things
一 つ あります。
There is one.
Uses kun-yomi ひとつ (hitotsu) when counting things
一 つ だけ です。
Only one.
Uses kun-yomi ひとつ (hitotsu) when counting things
On-yomiSino-Japanese Readings
一月
January
Uses on-yomi イチ (ichi) in compound for months
一日
one day
Uses on-yomi イチ (ichi) when meaning 'one day'
一 月 に いきます。
I will go in January.
Uses on-yomi イチ (ichi) in compound 一月
ExceptionIrregular Readings
一日
the 1st day of a month
Exception: 一日 reads as ついたち for the first day of the month
Quick facts
- Radical: 一 (itself)
- Strokes: 1
- Common compounds: 一月 (いちがつ, ichigatsu), 一日 (いちにち, ichinichi: one day)
- ⚠️ Exceptions:
- 一日 reads as ついたち when meaning "the 1st day of a month" (not いちにち).
- 一月 reads as いちがつ (uses on-yomi イチ in compound).
- Counting: ひとつ (one thing), ふたつ (two things).
Key Words
一 - one
一月 - january
一日 - the 1st day of a month
一日 - one day