一個(いっこ)

いっこ
noun, counter
one (object); a bit, somewhat
1. one (piece, item)
The number one when counting small objects or general items.
りんごを一個(いっこ)ください。
Please give me one apple.
一個(いっこ)100円(えん)で売(う)っている。
They're selling them for 100 yen each.
ここに一個(いっこ)だけ残(のこ)っていた。
There was only one left here.
2. one year difference (in age)
Used in casual speech to indicate age difference.
彼女(かのじょ)は一個(いっこ)上(うえ)だ。
She's one year older.
一個(いっこ)下(した)の後輩(こうはい)がいる。
I have a junior who's one year younger.
一個(いっこ)違(ちが)いなので気(き)が合(あ)う。
We get along because we're only one year apart.

一個(いっこ) is a very common counter for objects.

SENSE 1 - COUNTING OBJECTS:

  • 卵(たまご)一個(いっこ): one egg
  • 一個(いっこ)ずつ: one at a time
  • 一個(いっこ)単位(たんい): per piece

SENSE 2 - AGE DIFFERENCE (CASUAL):

  • 一個(いっこ)上(うえ): one year older
  • 一個(いっこ)下(した): one year younger
  • 二個(にこ)上(うえ): two years older

COUNTING:

  • 一個(いっこ)、二個(にこ)、三個(さんこ)...
  • 個(こ) is one of the most versatile counters in Japanese

NOTE:
The age difference usage (一個(いっこ)上(うえ)/下(した)) is casual/colloquial.

general
Added 2026.1.29 12:41 · Revised 2026.2.19 21:32
08500/08922_ikko