Tone change rule
The shape-shifting 一
一 (yī) becomes yí before a falling tone, and yì before everything else.
一的变调
一 (yī) becomes yí before a falling tone, and yì before everything else.
yī + 4th → yí ｜ yī + 1st/2nd/3rd → yì ｜ counting stays yī
一个yī gèyí gè
一半yī bànyí bàn
一天yī tiānyì tiān
一起yī qǐyì qǐ
一月yī yuèyī yuè
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yī + 4th → yí ｜ yī + 1st/2nd/3rd → yì ｜ counting stays yī
The number one is the biggest shape-shifter in Mandarin. Alone, or in numbers and dates, it is a flat yī. Before a falling tone it rises: yí. Before first, second or third tones it falls: yì. Three costumes, one character.
Dates and plain counting keep the flat tone: yī yuè (January), dì yī (first). The costume changes only when 一 works as 'a' or 'one of something'.
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