‘一屉’ (yī tì) is a noun phrase meaning ‘one tier’ or ‘one tray’, used specifically as a measure word for stacked, removable compartments—most commonly in steamer baskets (zhēnglóng) used to cook buns, dumplings, or other foods. The character 一 (yī) means ‘one’, and 屉 (tì) refers to a sliding drawer or tray; together, they denote a single horizontal level within a multi-tiered steaming setup. This term is deeply embedded in Chinese kitchen culture and food preparation contexts.

Unlike general measure words like 个 (gè), 一屉 carries strong semantic weight: it implies containment, stacking, and steam-cooking functionality. It’s rarely used outside culinary or household storage settings—never for abstract concepts or unrelated objects. You’ll hear it in restaurants ordering baozi, at home when organizing kitchenware, or on packaging for frozen steamed goods. While 屉 alone can mean ‘drawer’ (e.g., 抽屉), 一屉 almost always evokes food-related tiers unless context clearly indicates otherwise.