一いっ個こ

い

っ

こ

Common wordJLPTN5

Meanings

1

noun

one (thing); one piece; one item

Counts one discrete object; used with the counter 個 for small, often three-dimensional items.

りんごを一いっ個こください

。

Please give me one apple.

この箱はこには一いっ個こずつ入いれます。

Put them in this box one by one.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉を一いっ個こ買かうto buy one (item)
りんごを一いっ個こ買かった。
I bought one apple.
〈物もの〉が一いっ個こあるthere is one (item)
箱はこの中なかにボールが一いっ個こある。
There is one ball in the box.
一いっ個こも〈動どう詞し〉ないnot even one (emphatic negation)
残のこっているクッキーは一いっ個こもない。
There isn't even one cookie left.
一いっ個こずつ〈動どう詞し〉one at a time
お菓か子しを一いっ個こずつ配くばった。
I handed out the snacks one at a time.

Expressions

一いっ個こ一いっ個こone by one; individually; each one

Grammar

一人ひとり・二に本ほん・三さん冊さつNumbers and countersN5

Kanji

一one, one radical (no.1)
個individual, counter for articles
箇counter for articles

Related words

一ひとつN5
一つ is the native Japanese word for 'one thing' and works in almost any context, while 一個 pairs the Sino-Japanese counter 個 specifically for small, discrete objects.
一いっ点てん
一個 is a plain, everyday counter for one small object, while 一点 is more formal and typical of art pieces, merchandise lists, or detailed items.

Don't confuse with

一いっ戸こ
一個 (one item) and 一戸 (one household) are pronounced identically but refer to completely different things—an object versus a house.

Written forms

一いっ個こ
Standard kanji spelling; the most common way to write 'one (thing)'.
１いっ個こ
Numerical form often used in lists, recipes, or casual writing.
一いっ箇こ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; 箇 is an older variant of 個.

Etymology

Compound of 一 (ichi, 'one') + 個 (ko, counter for small objects). The reading いっこ results from a regular sound change where ち (chi) before a k-row consonant becomes っ (small tsu).

Word family

一いっ個こ人じん
private individual; individual person
一いっ個こ売うり
selling individually; selling piecemeal
一いっ個こ当あたり
each; per piece