壹

yī

冖 + 士 + 豆

Definitions

yī one (banker's anti-fraud numeral)

Etymology

About

壹 functions as the anti-fraud variant of the numeral 一 (one). It is formed from 士 at the top, 冖 in the middle, and 豆 at the bottom, a complex structure deliberately difficult to alter, making it ideal for financial documents. Originally, the character conveyed unity and single-mindedness, appearing in classical philosophical texts to describe a state of undivided attention. Because the simple horizontal stroke of 一 could be easily modified by adding extra strokes to change its value, this intricate form was adopted for use in banking, contracts, and legal records. Today, its role is strictly limited to preventing the fraudulent alteration of the number one in written sums.