AdverbsHSK 4
Expressing "one by one" with 一
Reduplicate 一 with a measure word to express doing something one by one or little by little. Use this pattern to indicate individual or incremental action. The most common measure word is 个, but choose the appropriate one for the context.
Structure
一 + Measure Word + 一 + Measure Word (+ Noun)
个 is the most common measure word, but other measure words like 点 can also fit.
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. Carry them one at a time.