一 means “one”

いち · ichi

Also: one radical (no.1)

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): ひと-, ひとつ
On'yomi (Chinese reading): イチ, イツ

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 1 · 1 stroke

The story

A single brushstroke: the universe beginning, a moment of perfect simplicity.

The foundation of all counting in Japanese

Where it comes from

Ideographic (指事文字): A single horizontal stroke: one.

The simplest kanji of all: one line equals one. This character has barely changed in over 3,000 years. When ancient scribes needed to write "one," they drew one line. Pure genius.

To remember it: One line = one thing. The most intuitive character ever created.

Its parts

一 One · Entire character

A single horizontal stroke: the number one

Words with 一

一人 (ひとり, hitori): one person / alone
一年 (いちねん, ichinen): one year

Example sentences

一つください。 One, please.
一番好きな食べ物は何ですか。 What is your favorite food?

Kanji that look like 一

二 (two): 二 has two strokes: simply one more line than 一

More from Ancient Counting

Learn 一 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji