ひとつ (hitotsu)

one (of a group); used when counting a single item; softens a request

Meaning & usage

ひとつ works as a counter meaning one of something, following a noun directly as in ひとつの銀行 or のひとつである after a noun phrase. It can also soften a request, as in ポテトをひとつつけてください, where it stands in for the counted item. The examples show it mainly counting one item within a larger set.

Example sentences 8