also: いっちょうじ
noun
single letter; single character
Refers to a single written character, often used in contexts emphasizing literacy or the ability to read even one character. Typically appears in negative constructions like 一丁字も知らない (illiterate).
彼は一丁字も読めない。
He cannot read a single character.
一丁字を知らない人は珍しい。
It's rare to find someone who doesn't know a single letter.
一字 is the more common and neutral term for 'one character', while 一丁字 is more literary and often used in fixed expressions about literacy.
Compound of 一 (one) + 丁 (counter for sheets, blocks, or characters) + 字 (character). The reading いっていじ follows regular on'yomi, while いっちょうじ may reflect a shift or dialectal variation.