Difference between revisions of "Expressing "one by one" with "yi""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
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The expression "one by one" is also simple in Chinese. It unsurprisingly features the word 一 (yī), but you don't even need the word "by." However, the pattern gets complicated somewhat by the concept of [[measure word]]s.
  
 
== Used as "One by One" ==
 
== Used as "One by One" ==
  
注:当这个量词是时间名词"天、年"时,表示的其实是"little by little, gradually",而非字面意思。
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The most obvious way to express "one by one" is 一个一个 (yī gè yī gè), and this expression is, in fact, quite common, especially when referring to people doing things "one by one." But other [[measure word]]s can be used in the same pattern instead of 个.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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一 + Measure Word + 一 + Measure Word (+ Noun)
 
一 + Measure Word + 一 + Measure Word (+ Noun)
 
</div>
 
</div>
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个 is the most likely candidate for the "Measure Word" slot here.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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*别 吵 ,<em>一</em> 个 <em>一</em> 个 说。<span class="pinyin">Bié chǎo, <em>yī</em> gè <em>yī</em> gè shuō.</span><span class="trans">Don't argue. Speak one by one.</span>
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*别 着急 ,<em>一</em> 点 <em>一</em> 点 做 。<span class="pinyin">Bié zháojí, <em>yī</em> diǎn <em>yī</em> diǎn zuò.</span><span class="trans">Don't worry, do it little by little.</span>
 
*请 <em>一</em> 个 房间 <em>一</em> 个 房间 检查 。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng <em>yī</em> gè fángjiān <em>yī</em> gè fángjiān jiǎnchá.</span><span class="trans">Please inspect room by room.</span>
 
*请 <em>一</em> 个 房间 <em>一</em> 个 房间 检查 。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng <em>yī</em> gè fángjiān <em>yī</em> gè fángjiān jiǎnchá.</span><span class="trans">Please inspect room by room.</span>
*别 拿 这么 多 ,<em>一</em> <em>一</em> 拿 。<span class="pinyin">Bié ná zhème duō, <em>yī</em> <em>yī</em> ná.</span><span class="trans">Don't carry too much. One box at a time.</span>
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*别 拿 那么 多 ,<em>一</em> <em>一</em> 拿 。<span class="pinyin">Bié ná nàme duō, <em>yī</em> <em>yī</em> ná.</span><span class="trans">Don't carry so much. Carry them one at a time.</span>
*别 着急 ,<em>一</em> 点 <em>一</em> 点 做 。<span class="pinyin">Bié zháojí, <em>yī</em> diǎn <em>yī</em> diǎn zuò.</span><span class="trans">Don't worry, do it little by little.</span>
 
*宝宝 <em>一</em> 天 <em>一</em> 天 在 长大 。<span class="pinyin">Bǎobao <em>yī</em> tiān <em>yī</em> tiān zài zhǎngdà.</span><span class="trans">The baby is growing up day by day.</span>
 
*爸爸 妈妈 <em>一</em> 年  <em>一</em> 年 在 变 老 。<span class="pinyin">Bàba māma <em>yī</em> nián <em>yī</em> nián zài biàn lǎo.</span><span class="trans">Year by year, mom and dad are becoming old.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Used as "over and over again" ==
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== Used as "Little by Little" ==
  
数量短语一旦重叠,意义和用法都会改变。如果使用的是动量如"次、遍",这个短语放在动词前作状语,用于描写动作地方式,或者表示动作已重复了多次。
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Aside from just meaning "one by one," when 一 (yī) is used with a [[measure word]] that is a unit of time  like "day" or "year," the meaning changes to "little by little" ("day by day," "year by year") or "gradually."
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
一 + [Measure Word] (+ ) + 一 + [Measure Word]
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一 + Time Unit + 一 + Time Unit (+ Noun)
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
如果说话人想强调动作重复之多,常常加"又"来加强语气。
 
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>一</em> <em>一</em> 次 问,他 就是 什么 都 不 说 。<span class="pinyin"><em>yī</em> <em>yī</em> cì wèn, tā jiùshì shénme dōu bù shuō.</span><span class="trans">I asked him again and again, but he still wouldn't say anything.</span>
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*宝宝 <em>一</em> <em>一</em> 天 在 长大 。<span class="pinyin">Bǎobao <em>yī</em> tiān <em>yī</em> tiān zài zhǎngdà.</span><span class="trans">The baby is growing up day by day.</span>
*<em>一</em> <em>一</em> 遍 地 跟 他 解释,他 还是 不 听 。<span class="pinyin"><em>yī</em> biàn <em>yī</em> biàn de gēn tā jiěshì, tā háishì bù tīng.</span><span class="trans">I explained it to him over and over again, but he still won't listen.</span>
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*爸爸 妈妈 <em>一</em> 年  <em>一</em> 年 在 变 老 。<span class="pinyin">Bàba māma <em>yī</em> nián <em>yī</em> nián zài biàn lǎo.</span><span class="trans">Year by year, mom and dad are growing old.</span>
*你 为什么 <em>一</em> 遍 <strong>又</strong> <em>一</em> 遍 地 听 这 首 歌 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ wèishénme <em>yī</em> biàn <strong>yòu</strong> <em>yī</em> biàn de tīng zhè shǒu gē?</span><span class="trans">Why do you listen to this song on repeat?</span>
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*他们 <em>一</em> 次 <strong>又</strong> <em>一</em> 次 犯 这 种 小 错误 ,让 经理 很 头疼 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>yī</em> cì <strong>yòu</strong> <em>yī</em> cì fàn zhè zhǒng xiǎo cuòwù, ràng jīnglǐ hěn tóuténg.</span><span class="trans">They make this mistake over and over again, giving the manager a headache.</span>
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</div>
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== Used as "Over and Over Again" ==
  
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When a measure word phrase like "one time" is repeated, the meaning also changes. When using a  [[verb measure word]] like 次 (cì) or 遍 (biàn), using this pattern can indicate how the action is performed or indicate repetition of the the action.
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=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
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一 + [Measure Word] (+ 又) + 一 + [Measure Word]
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Other Usage ==
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If the speaker wants to emphasize that the action has been repeated many times, 又 (yòu) can add emphasis.
  
除了有以上的功能,数量短语重叠还可以做定语,重在描写,表示"众数或数量多",这种情况通常省略第二个"一"。如"一朵朵花、一座座山"等。
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=== Examples ===
  
== See also ==
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<div class="liju">
  
=== Books ===
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*我 <em>一</em> 次 <em>一</em> 次 问,他 就是 什么 都 不 说 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yī</em> cì <em>yī</em> cì wèn, tā jiùshì shénme dōu bù shuō.</span><span class="trans">I asked him again and again, but he just wouldn't say anything.</span>
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*我 <em>一</em> 遍 <em>一</em> 遍 地 跟 他 解释,他 还是 不 听 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yī</em> biàn <em>yī</em> biàn de gēn tā jiěshì, tā háishì bù tīng.</span><span class="trans">I explained it to him again and again, but he still won't listen.</span>
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*你 为什么 <em>一</em> 遍 <strong>又</strong> <em>一</em> 遍 地 听 这 首 歌 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ wèishénme <em>yī</em> biàn <strong>yòu</strong> <em>yī</em> biàn de tīng zhè shǒu gē?</span><span class="trans">Why do you listen to this song over and over again?</span>
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*他们 <em>一</em> 次 <strong>又</strong> <em>一</em> 次 犯 这 种 小 错误 ,让 经理 很 头疼 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>yī</em> cì <strong>yòu</strong> <em>yī</em> cì fàn zhè zhǒng xiǎo cuòwù, ràng jīnglǐ hěn tóuténg.</span><span class="trans">They keep making the same mistake over and over again, and it's giving their manager a headache.</span>
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</div>
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{Translation|one by one}}
 
{{Translation|one by one}}
 
{{Translation|one after one}}
 
{{Translation|one after one}}
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{{Translation|times}}

Latest revision as of 08:08, 26 November 2018

Chinese-grammar-wiki-yi.jpg

The expression "one by one" is also simple in Chinese. It unsurprisingly features the word 一 (yī), but you don't even need the word "by." However, the pattern gets complicated somewhat by the concept of measure words.

Used as "One by One"

The most obvious way to express "one by one" is 一个一个 (yī gè yī gè), and this expression is, in fact, quite common, especially when referring to people doing things "one by one." But other measure words can be used in the same pattern instead of 个.

Structure

一 + Measure Word + 一 + Measure Word (+ Noun)

个 is the most likely candidate for the "Measure Word" slot here.

Examples

  • 别 吵 , 个 说。Bié chǎo, gè shuō.Don't argue. Speak one by one.
  • 别 着急 , 点 做 。Bié zháojí, diǎn diǎn zuò.Don't worry, do it little by little.
  • 个 房间 个 房间 检查 。Qǐng gè fángjiān gè fángjiān jiǎnchá.Please inspect room by room.
  • 别 拿 那么 多 , 个 拿 。Bié ná nàme duō, gè ná.Don't carry so much. Carry them one at a time.

Used as "Little by Little"

Aside from just meaning "one by one," when 一 (yī) is used with a measure word that is a unit of time like "day" or "year," the meaning changes to "little by little" ("day by day," "year by year") or "gradually."

Structure

一 + Time Unit + 一 + Time Unit (+ Noun)

Examples

  • 宝宝 天 在 长大 。Bǎobao tiān tiān zài zhǎngdà.The baby is growing up day by day.
  • 爸爸 妈妈 年 在 变 老 。Bàba māma nián nián zài biàn lǎo.Year by year, mom and dad are growing old.

Used as "Over and Over Again"

When a measure word phrase like "one time" is repeated, the meaning also changes. When using a verb measure word like 次 (cì) or 遍 (biàn), using this pattern can indicate how the action is performed or indicate repetition of the the action.

Structure

一 + [Measure Word] (+ 又) + 一 + [Measure Word]

If the speaker wants to emphasize that the action has been repeated many times, 又 (yòu) can add emphasis.

Examples

  • 次 问,他 就是 什么 都 不 说 。 cì wèn, tā jiùshì shénme dōu bù shuō.I asked him again and again, but he just wouldn't say anything.
  • 遍 地 跟 他 解释,他 还是 不 听 。 biàn biàn de gēn tā jiěshì, tā háishì bù tīng.I explained it to him again and again, but he still won't listen.
  • 你 为什么 遍 地 听 这 首 歌 ?Nǐ wèishénme biàn yòu biàn de tīng zhè shǒu gē?Why do you listen to this song over and over again?
  • 他们 次 犯 这 种 小 错误 ,让 经理 很 头疼 。Tāmen yòu cì fàn zhè zhǒng xiǎo cuòwù, ràng jīnglǐ hěn tóuténg.They keep making the same mistake over and over again, and it's giving their manager a headache.
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