1 in Chinese
Nearby Chinese Numbers
1 in Other Languages
About 1 in Chinese
In Chinese, 1 is written and spoken as 一. It is pronounced yī in Chinese. The simplified written form is 一.
1 is an odd number. Knowing how to say 1 in Chinese is useful in everyday situations such as prices, addresses, ages, dates, phone numbers, and telling the time.
Mastering numbers like 1 is one of the most practical skills when learning Chinese. Unlike vocabulary that only applies in specific contexts, numbers come up constantly — in shops, on public transport, in conversations about time and money, and when meeting new people.
Learning Numbers in Chinese
What makes Chinese numbers challenging
Chinese numbers are logically structured but tonal — each digit must be said with the correct tone or it becomes a different word entirely. The digit 1 (yī, first tone) is replaced by "yāo" in phone numbers and certain contexts. Larger numbers use a different grouping system: Chinese counts in units of 10,000 (万/wàn) rather than 1,000, so one million is "one hundred ten-thousands" (一百万). Measure words (classifiers) are required when counting objects, and different objects need different classifiers.
Tips for learning Chinese numbers
Master the four tones first — they are the foundation of all Chinese number comprehension. Learn 万 (wàn, ten thousand) early, as it is the key to understanding large numbers. Practice with prices and addresses since these are the most common real-world number encounters. Remember that "yāo" replaces "yī" for the digit 1 in phone numbers, room numbers, and other sequences — this is one of the first things textbooks miss.