Meaning of 单一
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- single
- only
- sole
How to use 单一
单一 describes something that lacks variety, such as a single source, a single type, or a one-dimensional approach. It often appears in formal or written Chinese, and it usually goes before a noun or after 很 or 太. Example: 这家店的菜品太单一了。(Zhè jiā diàn de càipǐn tài dānyī le.) This restaurant's menu has too little variety.
单 (dān) means single or alone, and 一 (yī) means one. Put "single" and "one" together and you get something that has only one kind or one part.
Common mistake: Learners often use 单一 to mean "only one person" or "single (unmarried)". For people, use 单身 (dānshēn) for unmarried and 唯一 (wéiyī) for "the only one".
单一 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
单 dān · bill · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
一 yī · one · 1 strokes
- 1
Related words
Words that share a character with 单一.
| 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 单一
What does 单一 mean?
单一 (dānyī) means "single; only" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 单一?
单一 is made of 2 characters: 单 (8 strokes), 一 (1 strokes). That is 9 strokes in total.
Is 单一 an HSK word?
Yes. 单一 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 单一 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 单一 is written 單一.
What is the difference between 单一 and 唯一?
唯一 (wéiyī) means "the one and only" and stresses uniqueness, as in 唯一的办法 (the only way). 单一 stresses a lack of variety or mix, as in 单一的颜色 (a single, plain color).
Does 单一 sound negative?
It often does when people complain about something being monotonous, as in 生活很单一 (life is dull). In technical or neutral contexts, such as 单一市场 (single market), it simply means "single" without any criticism.