第 1 课

the smallest positive integer, the number one;
same, identical;
whole, entire;

“一” (yī) is a single-component character, categorized as an ideogram.

Etymology and Evolution

• Oracle Bone Script: 
  A simple horizontal stroke or line used to represent the number one, making it the most primitive numeral symbol.
  
  
  

• Bronze Script: 
  Inherited the form from the oracle bone script, consistently appearing as a horizontal line.
  
  
  

• Small Seal Script (Shuowen Jiezi): 
  Written as “一”. Xu Shen explained it as “In the beginning of the great inception, the Dao established itself in the One, then created and divided heaven and earth, transforming into all things,” elevating it to a philosophical and cosmic origin.

• Clerical and Regular Scripts: The stroke became straight and level, eventually standardizing into the modern form “一”.

Original and Extended Meanings

• Original Meaning: The smallest positive integer (one).

• Extended Meanings:

  • Unity, whole: As in “统一” (tǒngyī, unify) or “一体” (yītǐ, an integral whole).

  • Whole, full: As in “一生” (yīshēng, a whole lifetime) or “一屋子人” (yī wūzi rén, a house full of people).

  • Same, identical: As in “一致” (yīzhì, unanimous) or “一模一样” (yī mú yī yàng, exactly the same).

  • First time, initial: As in “一见如故” (yī jiàn rú gù, feel like old friends at the first meeting).

  • Indicates a brief or attempted action: As in “笑一笑” (xiào yī xiào, give a smile) or “看一看” (kàn yī kàn, take a look).

“一”是独体字，属于指事字。

字源及演变

• 甲骨文： 用简单的一横或一画来表示数目“一”，是最原始的记数符号。

• 金文： 继承甲骨文，形态稳定，为一横。

• 小篆（《说文解字》）： 写作“一”，许慎解释为“惟初太始，道立于一，造分天地，化成万物”，将其视为哲学与宇宙的起点。

• 隶书与楷书： 笔画变得平直，最终定型为今天的“一”。

本义与引申义

• 本义： 最小的正整数。

• 引申义：

  • 统一、整体： 如“统一”、“一体”。

  • 全、满： 如“一生”、“一屋子人”。

  • 相同、一样： 如“一致”、“一模一样”。

  • 初次、第一次： 如“一见如故”。

  • 表示动作短暂或尝试： 如“笑一笑”、“看一看”。