noun
one line; one streak; one stripe; one ray; one wisp
Counts long, thin things: lines, streaks, stripes, rays of light, wisps of smoke, etc. Used with the counter 条.
雲の切れ間から一条の光が差し込んだ。
A single ray of light shone through a break in the clouds.
彼の背中には一条の傷跡があった。
There was a single scar line across his back.
noun
one item; one clause; one passage
Counts items in a list, clauses in a document, or passages in a text. Often used in formal or legal contexts.
契約書の第一条をご確認ください。
Please check Article 1 of the contract.
この法律は一条の条文から成り立っている。
This law consists of a single clause.
noun
one matter; one affair; one incident
Refers to a single matter, event, or case. Somewhat literary or formal; often used in news or reports.
その一条について、詳しい説明を求めた。
They requested a detailed explanation regarding that one matter.
新聞はその事件を一条の記事として扱った。
The newspaper covered the incident as a single article.
一筋 also means 'one line' or 'one streak', but is more common for abstract paths (e.g., 一筋の光明) and often carries a nuance of earnestness or single-mindedness. 一条 is more neutral and formal.
一行 specifically refers to one line of text, whereas 一条 can refer to any long, thin thing or a clause/article.
Compound of 一 (one) and the counter 条 (じょう), which is used for long, thin things, articles, clauses, and matters. The kanji 条 originally meant 'twig' or 'branch', extended to 'line' and 'article'.