Word Guide
How to pronounce 一杯 (yì bēi)
一杯 means "one cup/glass". Use this guide to lock in the tone pattern, articulation target, and the mistake most learners still make.
Short answer
一杯 is pronounced yì bēi and means "one cup/glass". The key target is sandhi yi bu, with the tone pattern Tone 4 + Tone 1.
Why learners miss it
Learners often miss 一杯 because the first syllable often gets frozen as dictionary-tone yī.
Self-test
Record 一杯, then check whether your pitch contour and articulation match yì bēi.
Pinyin
yì bēi
Tone Pattern
Tone 4 + Tone 1
Pronunciation Focus
sandhiYiBu
How to say it
Guided fix
How to shape this pronunciation
What to do
Say yì slowly first, then keep the target sound steady as you move through the rest of 一杯.
What to avoid
Do not let the whole word flatten into one rushed shape. Keep the target consonant or tone contrast clear.
What to listen for
The key sound should stay distinct instead of collapsing toward the nearest easy English habit.
Quick self-check
Say yì bēi once slowly and once at normal speed. If the target sound disappears when you speed up, it is not stable yet.
Phonetic Breakdown
y+i_b+ei
Most common error
Error summary
The first syllable often gets frozen as dictionary-tone yī.
Focus area
SandhiYiBu
Difficulty
Easy
HSK Level
HSK1