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Expressing "one by one" with 一 ("yi1")

一 yī

Adverb
HSK 3

Structure

一 + Measure Word + 一 + Measure Word (+ Noun) 一 + Time Unit + 一 + Time Unit (+ Noun) 一 + [Measure Word] (+ 又) + 一 + [Measure Word]

Translations

  • one by one
  • one after one
  • times

Definition

用“一”的重复结构（如“一个一个”、“一一”）表示逐一、依次进行的意思。

Using the reduplicated structure of '一' (e.g., '一个一个', '一一') to indicate doing something one by one, sequentially.

Usage

通常将量词重叠，形成“一+量词+一+量词”的结构，如“一个一个”、“一本一本”；或者使用“一一”作为状语，修饰动词。

Usually reduplicate the measure word to form '一 + measure word + 一 + measure word', e.g., '一个一个' (one by one), '一本一本' (book by book); or use '一一' as an adverbial to modify the verb.

Examples

  • 1 学生们一个一个地走进教室。 (The students walked into the classroom one by one.)
  • 2 他把书一本一本地放在书架上。 (He placed the books on the shelf one by one.)
  • 3 我向他一一介绍了我的家人。 (I introduced my family members to him one by one.)
  • 4 老张一一检查了所有的文件。 (Old Zhang checked all the files one by one.)
  • 5 请大家依次一个一个地通过。 (Please pass through one by one in order.)

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