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How to say “not even one” in Chinese with 一 (yī)

一 (yī) + MW + 也 (yě)/都 (dōu) + 没 (méi)/不 (bù) + Verb

一 (yī) — not even one

HSK 3Sentence Patterns

Rule structure

一 (yī) + Measure Word + 也 (yě)/都 (dōu) + 没 (méi)/不 (bù) is a strong negation pattern meaning "not a single one," emphasizing the total absence.

Examples

我一个人都不认识。

Wǒ yī gè rén dōu bù rènshi.

I don't know a single person.

她一个朋友也不想见。

Tā yīgè péngyǒu yě bùxiǎng jiàn.

She doesn't want to see a single friend.

我一本书也没有。

Wǒ yī běnshū yě méiyǒu.

I don't have a single book.

Practice

Build the sentence

Drag the characters to put them in the correct order

Characters

Words from this rule

一

yī

One, 1

也

yě

Also, too

都

dōu

All, both

不

bù

No, not

我

wǒ

I, me

个人

gè rén

Individual; personal

认识

rènshi

To know, to be acquainted with; recognition

她

tā

She

个

gè

General measure word

朋友

péngyou

Friend

想

xiǎng

To want, to think, to miss

见

jiàn

To see

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “not even one” in Chinese with 一?

Use the structure: 一 (yī) + MW + 也 (yě)/都 (dōu) + 没 (méi)/不 (bù) + Verb. For example: 我一个人都不认识。 — “I don't know a single person”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

我一个人都不认识。 — “I don't know a single person”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.

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More HSK 3 grammar rules

被 — passive voice

Patient/Object + 被 (bèi) + (Agent) + Verb Phrase

越 — the more… the more…

Subj.＋越 (yuè)＋Verb＋越 (yuè) + Adj. / Verb

把 — how to use the 把 sentence

Subj. + 把 (bǎ) + Obj. + Verb

一边 — doing two things at once

一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 1, 一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 2

如果…就 — if… then…

如果 (rúguǒ)……，就 (jiù)……

万 — big numbers

Number + 万 (wàn) / 亿 (yì)

地 — turning adjectives into adverbs

Adj. + 地 (de) + Verb

AA — reduplicating adjectives

AA / AABB