Meaning of 一贯
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- consistent
- constant
- from start to finish
- all along
- persistent
How to use 一贯
一贯 describes habits, attitudes, or styles that have stayed the same over time. It often appears as 一贯的 before a noun or as an adverb before a verb, and it is common in formal or written Chinese. Example: 他一贯很认真。(Tā yīguàn hěn rènzhēn.) He has always been very conscientious.
一 (yī) means one, and 贯 (guàn) means to string through, like coins threaded on a single cord. Picture one cord running through everything from start to finish, and you have 一贯: consistent all along.
Common mistake: Learners often use 一贯 for a single fixed rule or a one-time action, but it describes a pattern that has held over a long period, so 他今天一贯迟到 is wrong. Also note the tone change: 一 is usually read yí before the fourth tone of 贯, so it sounds like yíguàn in speech.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
一 yī · one · 1 strokes
- 1
贯 guàn · to pierce · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 一贯.
| 一起 | yīqǐ | (in) the same place; together; in company (with) |
| 一样 | yīyàng | same; like |
| 一些 | yīxiē | some; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...er |
| 一会儿 | yīhuìr | a moment; a while |
| 一半 | yībàn | half |
| 一边 | yībiān | one side; either side |
| 一点儿 | yīdiǎnr | erhua variant of 一點|一点[yi1 dian3] |
| 一块儿 | yīkuàir | erhua variant of 一塊|一块[yi1 kuai4] |
| 一下儿 | yīxiàr | erhua form of 一下[yi1 xia4] |
| 有一些 | yǒuyīxiē | somewhat; rather |
| 一定 | yīdìng | surely; certainly; definitely; fixed; settled |
| 一直 | yīzhí | straight (in a straight line); continuously; always; all the way through |
Questions about 一贯
What does 一贯 mean?
一贯 (yīguàn) means "consistent; constant" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 一贯?
一贯 is made of 2 characters: 一 (1 strokes), 贯 (8 strokes). That is 9 strokes in total.
Is 一贯 an HSK word?
Yes. 一贯 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 一贯 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 一贯 is written 一貫.
What is the difference between 一贯 and 一直?
一直 (yīzhí) simply means continuously or all along and is very common in speech. 一贯 is more formal and stresses that a behavior or principle is consistent and characteristic of someone, like 一贯的作风 (consistent style).
Does 一贯 have a positive or negative meaning?
It is neutral. It can praise someone, as in 一贯支持 (always supportive), or criticize them, as in 一贯不负责 (consistently irresponsible). The context decides the tone.