<p>This dictionary definition explains the use of 一:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>表示猛然发出某种动作或突然出现某种情况</p>
<p>E.g. 往起一站 / 右手一挥 / 眼前一黑。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Basically, this use of 一 expresses <strong>the suddenness of an action</strong> either <em>intentionally or unintentionally</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-12T23:54:40.807Z
2020-01-12T23:54:40.807Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
dan
<p>Well, what does a big belly do? It sticks out, protrudes!</p>

<p>Have a look <a href="https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E6%8C%BA" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>, definition 2. especially: 凸出</p>

<p>2 伸直，凸出：～直。～起腰。</p>

<p>雪人大肚子一挺，他顽皮地说：“我就是冬天。“<br>
The snowman, with his big belly sticking out, playfully said, "I am winter."</p>

<p>(There is a German joke about big-bellied men, this just reminded me of it, but you'd have to know German to understand it: Er ist ein Spiegeleimensch.)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-12T23:19:33.237Z
Thank you for your input. My main question is why 一 is written before it.
Kassem
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-12T23:11:26.910Z
2020-01-12T23:11:26.910Z
Pedroski
<blockquote>
  <p>雪人大肚子一挺，他顽皮地说：“我就是冬天。”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What is the meaning of 一挺 in this sentence? I know 挺 can describe something as straight or erect, but I am confused why 一 is said before it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-12T23:23:04.170Z
一 shows that it is a quick act. In this example, 一挺 means that do a quick act of making the belly move forward.
000
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T01:53:06.407Z
Does this answer your question? [What is the meaning of 一看 in 打开盒子一看，里面是一只小猫?](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/32743/what-is-the-meaning-of-%e4%b8%80%e7%9c%8b-in-%e6%89%93%e5%bc%80%e7%9b%92%e5%ad%90%e4%b8%80%e7%9c%8b-%e9%87%8c%e9%9d%a2%e6%98%af%e4%b8%80%e5%8f%aa%e5%b0%8f%e7%8c%ab)
Ray
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T03:44:59.717Z
@Raymond I think the use in that question is different from OP's. 一看 in that context introduced a *sequence*, while 一挺 here doesn't have that connotation.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T03:47:37.560Z
一挺 applies the same structure of "一" + verb as 一看
Ray
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T03:52:59.770Z
@Raymond 一 in 一看 denotes this sense: "（用在动词或动量词前面， 表示先做某个动作， 下文说明动作结果）" as in "经他这么一说， 大家又都有信心了。"
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T19:28:06.903Z
Or you could see it as ```雪人大肚子挺了一下```
Shaw
<translation><word-choice>
Meaning of 一挺 in 雪人大肚子一挺，他顽皮地说：“我就是冬天。”
# Meaning of 一挺 in 雪人大肚子一挺，他顽皮地说：“我就是冬天。”

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-01-12)

> 雪人大肚子一挺，他顽皮地说：“我就是冬天。”

What is the meaning of 一挺 in this sentence? I know 挺 can describe something as straight or erect, but I am confused why 一 is said before it.

**Tags:** translation, word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 一 shows that it is a quick act. In this example, 一挺 means that do a quick act of making the belly move forward.  
> **username_2**: Does this answer your question? [What is the meaning of 一看 in 打开盒子一看，里面是一只小猫?](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/32743/what-is-the-meaning-of-%e4%b8%80%e7%9c%8b-in-%e6%89%93%e5%bc%80%e7%9b%92%e5%ad%90%e4%b8%80%e7%9c%8b-%e9%87%8c%e9%9d%a2%e6%98%af%e4%b8%80%e5%8f%aa%e5%b0%8f%e7%8c%ab)  
> **username_3**: @Raymond I think the use in that question is different from OP's. 一看 in that context introduced a *sequence*, while 一挺 here doesn't have that connotation.  
> **username_2**: 一挺 applies the same structure of "一" + verb as 一看  
> **username_3**: @Raymond 一 in 一看 denotes this sense: "（用在动词或动量词前面， 表示先做某个动作， 下文说明动作结果）" as in "经他这么一说， 大家又都有信心了。"  
> **username_4**: Or you could see it as ```雪人大肚子挺了一下```  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-01-12. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

This dictionary definition explains the use of 一:

> 表示猛然发出某种动作或突然出现某种情况
>
> E.g. 往起一站 / 右手一挥 / 眼前一黑。

Basically, this use of 一 expresses **the suddenness of an action** either *intentionally or unintentionally*.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2020-01-12. Score: 1

Well, what does a big belly do? It sticks out, protrudes!

Have a look [here](https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E6%8C%BA), definition 2. especially: 凸出

2 伸直，凸出：～直。～起腰。

雪人大肚子一挺，他顽皮地说：“我就是冬天。“  
The snowman, with his big belly sticking out, playfully said, "I am winter."

(There is a German joke about big-bellied men, this just reminded me of it, but you'd have to know German to understand it: Er ist ein Spiegeleimensch.)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for your input. My main question is why 一 is written before it.  

---

