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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.

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  • 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
    Jan 12, 2020 at 23:23
  • 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?
    – Ray
    Jan 13, 2020 at 1:53
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    @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
    Jan 13, 2020 at 3:44
  • 一挺 applies the same structure of "一" + verb as 一看
    – Ray
    Jan 13, 2020 at 3:47
  • @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
    Jan 13, 2020 at 3:52

2 Answers 2

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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.

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

Have a look here, 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.)

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    Thank you for your input. My main question is why 一 is written before it.
    – Kassem
    Jan 12, 2020 at 23:19

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