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One - yi1, yi2 or yi4


johnmck

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My dictionary tells me that the word "one" is translated in pinyin as yi1, yet I often see written as yi2 and yi4. I have looked it up in my grammar book and while it explains how this can happen with bu (not) it does not mention yi. What is the rule for this character?

John.

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Yi1 in isolation

Yi2 when followed by a fourth tone

Yi4 when followed by any of the other three tones

Also note that 一个 is pronounced yi2ge. Even if ge is pronounced with the so-called light tone, it is originally ge4, and the full pronunciation is the reason for that second tone.

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