一番
🃏 Flashcard
一番
ichiban
Tap to reveal usage
the most; the best
N5
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N5
Beginner · Basic sentence structures
Reading
ichiban
Post ID
50618
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
the most; the best
📖 How to use it
Says that something is the most or the best among a group.
Attaches to
Attach 一番 directly to a noun or use it before an adjective or adverb. For verbs, use the て-form of the verb plus 一番. For example, 一番好き (most liked), 一番速く (fastest).
一番 is a word that means 'number one' or 'the most'. You put it before an adjective or adverb to make a superlative. For example, 一番大きい means 'the biggest'. You can also use it with a noun, like 一番の友達 (best friend). When you want to say 'the most' with a verb, you use the て-form of the verb and then 一番, like 一番頑張って (try the hardest).
これが一番好きです。
Kore ga ichiban suki desu.
I like this the most.
富士山は一番高い山です。
Fujisan wa ichiban takai yama desu.
Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain.
毎日一番早く起きるのは母です。
Mainichi ichiban hayaku okiru no wa haha desu.
My mother is the one who gets up the earliest every day.
Not とても
とても means 'very' and does not compare, while 一番 means 'the most' and implies a comparison.
Register
Neutral and used in both speaking and writing.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
一番
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat 一番 three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using 一番. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N5 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern 一番 mean?
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The most; the best
What JLPT level is 一番?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use 一番 in a sentence?
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Attach 一番 (ichiban) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is 一番 formal or casual Japanese?
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一番 is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember 一番 long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.