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[](http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1286538933)
[](# "wikilink")
Expressing "one by one" with "yi"
=================================
[](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASGBC7A0)
-
Level
[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
-
Similar to
Used for
[Expressing
quantity](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_quantity)
-
Keywords
[一](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%B8%80)
-
Translations
[one by
one](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/One_by_one),
[one after
one](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/One_after_one),
[times](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Times)
[{width="300"
height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-yi.jpg)
Contents
--------
[hide]([# "wikilink")\]
- [1 Used as "One
by One"](#Used_as_.22One_by_One.22 "wikilink")
- [1.1
Structure](#Structure "wikilink")
- [1.2
Examples](#Examples "wikilink")
- [2 Used as
"Little by
Little"](#Used_as_.22Little_by_Little.22 "wikilink")
- [2.1
Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink")
- [2.2
Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink")
- [3 Used as
"Over and Over
Again"](#Used_as_.22Over_and_Over_Again.22 "wikilink")
- [3.1
Structure](#Structure_3 "wikilink")
- [3.2
Examples](#Examples_3 "wikilink")
一 + Measure Word + 一 + Measure Word (+ Noun)
### Examples
- 别 吵 ，*一* 个 *一* 个 说。Bié chǎo, *yī* gè
*yī* gè shuō.Don't argue. Speak one by
one.
- 别 着急 ，*一* 点 *一* 点 做 。Bié zháojí, *yī*
diǎn *yī* diǎn zuò.Don't worry, do it
little by little.
- 请 *一* 个 房间 *一* 个 房间 检查 。Qǐng *yī*
gè fángjiān *yī* gè fángjiān
jiǎnchá.Please inspect room by
room.
- 别 拿 那么 多 ，*一* 个 *一* 个 拿 。Bié ná
nàme duō, *yī* gè *yī* gè ná.Don't carry
so much. Pick them up 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](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/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 *一* 天 *一* 天 在 长大 。Bǎobao *yī* tiān
*yī* tiān zài zhǎngdà.The baby is growing
up day by day.
- 爸爸 妈妈 *一* 年 *一* 年 在 变 老 。Bàba māma
*yī* nián *yī* 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](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/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
- 我 *一* 次 *一* 次 问，他 就是 什么 都 不 说
。Wǒ *yī* cì *yī* cì wèn, tā jiùshì shénme dōu
bù shuō.I asked him again and again, but
he just wouldn't say anything.
- 我 *一* 遍 *一* 遍 地 跟 他 解释，他 还是 不 听
。Wǒ *yī* biàn *yī* 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 *一* 遍 **又** *一* 遍 地 听 这 首 歌
？Nǐ wèishénme *yī* biàn **yòu** *yī* biàn de
tīng zhè shǒu gē?Why do you listen to
this song over and over again?
- 他们 *一* 次 **又** *一* 次 犯 这 种 小 错误 ，让 经理 很 头疼
。Tāmen *yī* cì **yòu** *yī* 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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