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March 24, 2026
第一dìyī(di4yi1)
第一 (dì yī) means 'first' or 'number one'. It is commonly used to indicate priority, rank, or order in various contexts, such as competitions, lists, or preferences. This word can also imply being the best or the most important in a given category.
Frequency#223DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 第一 is highly regarded, whether in education, sports, or business. The emphasis on being first reflects the competitive nature and the value placed on excellence in many aspects of life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant number '1' standing at the front of a line, proudly waving a flag that says '第一'. The character '第' resembles a step, indicating order, while '一' is the number one. Together, they represent being at the forefront or the top.
Meanings of 第一
dìyī(di4yi1)
1first
2number one
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About 第一
第一Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#223Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L2TOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 第一
Podcast: 第一
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AI Study Notes for 第一
Quick Contrast
第二 (dì èr) - use 第一 (dì yī) when indicating the top rank or priority, as 第二 (dì èr) refers to the second position.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant number '1' standing at the front of a line, proudly waving a flag that says '第一'. The character '第' resembles a step, indicating order, while '一' is the number one. Together, they represent being at the forefront or the top.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 第一 with 先 (xiān), which also means 'first' but is more about precedence in time. This term is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but when used in competition or ranking, it emphasizes superiority. Common collocations include 第一名 (dì yī míng - first place) and 第一时间 (dì yī shí jiān - first time).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 第一 connects with other ordinal numbers like 第二 (dì èr - second) and 第三 (dì sān - third). Focus on using it in sentences to describe ranking or preferences, which will help reinforce the concept of order in Chinese.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 第一 is highly regarded, whether in education, sports, or business. The emphasis on being first reflects the competitive nature and the value placed on excellence in many aspects of life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 第一 when they mean 'first' in a temporal sense, like 'first to arrive'. Instead, use 先 (xiān) for that context. For example, saying '我第一到' (Wǒ dì yī dào) should be corrected to '我先到' (Wǒ xiān dào).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 第一
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Grammar Patterns of 第一
第一 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
tā mén de wán zhěng mù lù shòu jià5 5 měi， yuán ， dì yī cì dìng gòu shí kě fǎn5 huán zhè。
Their full catalogue costs $5, redeemable against a first order.
2
他写第一本书得到了400元“巨款”.
tā xiě dì yī běn shū dé dào le400 400“ yuán “”.
For his first book he received the princely sum of $
3
大约三十年前,他花了3美元第一次整批买下50本书.
dà yuē sān shí nián qián, , tā huā3 le 3 měi yuán dì yī cì zhěng pī50 mǎi xià.
Nearly 30 years ago he bought his first job lot of 50 books for $
Cultural Notes for 第一
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being 第一 is highly regarded, whether in education, sports, or business. The emphasis on being first reflects the competitive nature and the value placed on excellence in many aspects of life.
Frequently Asked Questions about 第一
You can use it to describe something that is the best or the most important, for example, '他是我的第一选择' (Tā shì wǒ de dì yī xuǎnzé - He is my first choice).
No, 第一 can be used in both formal and informal situations, making it versatile for everyday conversation.
Yes, you can combine 第一 with other words, such as '第一名' (dì yī míng) for 'first place'.
