The Chinese word "一度" is formed through the combination of the numeral "一" (yī), meaning "one," and the character "度" (dù), which originally denotes a measure, degree, or occasion. Historically, "度" carries the sense of a standard unit or a passing of time (as in temperature degrees or a span of time). When combined, the phrase literally means "one measure" or "one time," and it has evolved into a modern adverb meaning "once," "for a time," or "on one occasion," used to describe a past situation that occurred temporarily or a specific point in time.