一(いち)

いち

number

one

1. one

The number one. This is the most basic counting number in Japanese. When counting objects, いち is often combined with counters like 一(いっ)つ (hitotsu), 一(いっ)個(こ) (ikko), or 一(いち)人(にん) (ichinin), though the pronunciation may change depending on the counter.

一(いち)から十(じゅう)まで数(かぞ)えてください。

Please count from one to ten.

ペンを一(いち)本(ぽん)ください。

Please give me one pen.

いち becomes いっ before ぽん

一(いち)番(ばん)好(す)きな色(いろ)は何(なん)ですか。

What is your favorite (number one) color?

一番 means 'number one' or 'most'

一(いち)週間(しゅうかん)に一(いち)回(かい)、友達(ともだち)と近(ちか)くの公園(こうえん)でサッカーをしています。

Once a week, I play soccer with my friends at the park.

一(いち)年(ねん)に一(いち)回(かい)、家族(かぞく)みんなで旅行(りょこう)に行(い)くのが、うちの楽(たの)しみなので、いつも楽(たの)しみにしています。

Going on a trip with the whole family once a year is our family's pleasure, so we always look forward to it.

一(いち) is the number one. The reading changes depending on what follows it.

Reading variations

いち: standalone, before most counters (一(いち)人(にん)、一(いち)回(かい))
いっ: before counters starting with k, s, t, p (一(いっ)個(こ)、一(いっ)冊(さつ)、一(いっ)杯(ぱい))
ひと: native Japanese counting (一(ひと)つ、一(ひと)り)

Compounds

一番(いちばん): number one, the most
一度(いちど): once
一緒(いっしょ): together
一生(いっしょう): one's whole life
一人(ひとり): one person, alone

Common expressions

一(いち)から: from scratch, from the beginning
一(いち)か八(ばち)か: all or nothing (idiom)

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:47 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

00500/00705_ichi