万一

The Chinese word 万一 (wàn yī) is composed of two characters: 万 (wàn), meaning "ten thousand," and 一 (yī), meaning "one." Together, they literally mean "one in ten thousand," or "a very small chance." This meaning is reflected in the word's usage, as it is often used to express the idea of "in case of an emergency" or "just in case." For example, someone might say 万一有事 (wàn yī yǒu shì), which means "in case something happens."The word 万一 can also be used in a more general sense to mean "maybe" or "possibly." For example, someone might say 万一他来了 (wàn yī tā lái le), which means "maybe he will come." In this sense, 万一 is similar to the English word "perhaps."The word 万一 is a common word in Chinese, and it is used in both spoken and written language. It is an important word to know for HSK learners, as it is used in a variety of contexts.