Brand Logo
LoginDownload App
Search
Brand Logo

Edzy for Classes 6-12

Edzy is a personal AI tutor for CBSE and State Board students, with curriculum-aligned guidance, practice, revision, and study plans that adapt to each learner.

  • Email: always@edzy.ai
  • Phone: +91 96256 68472
  • WhatsApp: +91 96256 68472
  • Address: Sector 63, Gurgaon, Haryana

Follow Edzy

Browse by Class

  • CBSE Class 6
  • CBSE Class 7
  • CBSE Class 8
  • CBSE Class 9
  • CBSE Class 10
  • CBSE Class 11
  • CBSE Class 12
Explore the CBSE resource hub

Explore Edzy

  • Study Resources
  • Free Study Tools
  • Best Apps for Board Exams
  • Edzy vs ChatGPT
  • About Us
  • Why We Built Edzy
  • Blog
  • CBSE AI Tutor

Support & Legal

  • Help & FAQs
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Refund Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Site Directory

© 2026 Edzy. All rights reserved.

Curriculum-aligned learning paths for students in Classes 6-12.

Chapter Hub

One Centimetre

In 'One Centimetre', Tao Ying navigates her role as a devoted mother while confronting societal rules. The story unpacks the struggles of a working-class mother's love for her son amidst the complexities of everyday life.

Summary, practice, and revision
CBSE
Class 12
English
Kaliedoscope

One Centimetre

Author: Bi Shu-min

Chapter Summary

Playing 00:00 / 00:00

Download NCERT Chapter PDF for One Centimetre – Latest Edition

Access Free NCERT PDFs & Study Material on Edzy – Official, Anytime, Anywhere

Live Challenge Mode

Ready to Duel?

Challenge friends on the same chapter, answer fast, and sharpen your concepts in a focused 1v1 battle.

NCERT-aligned questions
Perfect for friends and classmates

Why start now

Quick, competitive practice with instant momentum and zero setup.

More about chapter "One Centimetre"

'One Centimetre' follows Tao Ying, a factory cook, who grapples with the challenges of motherhood while raising her son, Xiao Ye. On a bus ride, Tao Ying reflects on the significance of a single centimetre as she decides whether Xiao Ye qualifies for a bus ticket. Their day at a temple unfolds with Tao Ying's societal reflections, from ticket rules to her attempts to uphold moral behavior for her son. A confrontation with a conductor brings to light parental struggles, societal norms, and the influence of dignity on familial relationships. As a humorous yet poignant tale, it showcases the everyday challenges of a loving mother and highlights the thin line between propriety and practicality.
Learn Better On The App
A clearer daily roadmap

Your Study Plan, Ready

Start every day with a clear learning path tailored to what matters next.

Daily plan
Less decision fatigue

Faster access to practice, revision, and daily study flow.

Edzy mobile app preview

Explore 'One Centimetre' - A Heartfelt Mother-Son Journey

Dive into Bi Shu-min's 'One Centimetre', a compelling story of a mother navigating societal complexities while raising her son, highlighting themes of love, integrity, and family amidst financial struggles.

The title 'One Centimetre' embodies the pivotal moment in the story where a mere one centimetre determines whether Xiao Ye requires a bus ticket, symbolizing the small measurements that can have significant emotional repercussions, especially in a child's life.
Tao Ying decides whether to buy a bus ticket based on the demeanor of the bus conductor. If he appears responsible, she'll buy the ticket; but if he seems casual, she refrains, rationalizing it as a small punishment to the conductor and a little saving for herself.
Tao Ying hesitates to buy two tickets because she knows that a ticket for Xiao Ye, who is just one centimetre short of the required height, feels significant in terms of pride for her son and financial implications for her family.
Xiao Ye represents the innocence and desires of childhood. His insistence on having a ticket highlights the child's need for validation and recognition while exposing the mother's struggle to balance societal rules with emotional nurturing.
Tao Ying feels a strong sense of responsibility for her son, recognizing that he views her as the center of his universe. She wishes to be a perfect mother despite the challenges posed by her background and societal expectations.
Tao Ying faces internal conflicts regarding her financial limitations, her desire to uphold ethical standards for her son, and the emotional weight of being perceived as a perfect role model while navigating societal expectations.
The meeting with the temple officials reveals the arbitrary nature of societal rules and the difficulties that individuals face when adhering to them. It emphasizes how personal integrity and dignity clash with rigid systems.
The relationship between Tao Ying and Xiao Ye is portrayed as deeply affectionate, marked by tenderness and mutual dependence. Their interactions reveal the complexities of maternal love, indicating both nurturing and challenges of parental expectations.
Tao Ying's actions during the bus incident suggest the intense pressure parents face to meet societal standards and fulfill their children's needs, reflecting the struggle between personal values and external expectations.
Humor in 'One Centimetre' often arises from Tao Ying's observations and interactions, providing levity to serious themes. It underlines the absurdities of daily life and the comedic elements of parental challenges in a relatable manner.
The emotional impact of Tao Ying's final interaction with the officials highlights her dignity and wisdom. By refusing the compensation, she reclaims her integrity, emphasizing the greater value of moral principles over monetary gain.
The setting, primarily in public spaces like the bus and temple, influences the narrative by showcasing social interactions and norms that shape Tao Ying's experiences as a mother. It also amplifies her struggles against societal judgment.
The Old Lady's scales symbolize the subjective nature of societal standards. While they flatter, they also reveal the distortions in perceptions of value and worth, paralleling the experiences of Tao Ying's journey.
Bi Shu-min's writing style enhances the story through vivid imagery and nuanced characterizations, allowing readers to connect emotionally with Tao Ying’s struggles while effectively conveying social commentary with clarity and depth.
Tao Ying's background as a blue-collar worker affects her decisions by instilling a practical mindset toward money and ethics. Her experiences of financial struggle lead her to weigh each decision's financial implications carefully.
Themes in 'One Centimetre' include motherhood, societal expectations, financial hardship, integrity, and the delicate balance between personal morality and social norms. Each theme interweaves to present a rich narrative of everyday challenges.
The protagonist, Tao Ying, views her societal role with a mix of pride and anxiety. She strives to fulfill the expectations of an ideal mother while grappling with her limitations, reflecting her desire to create a better future for Xiao Ye.
Tao Ying refuses the compensation offered to her as a means to uphold her dignity and principles. She prefers to stand by her values rather than accept financial compensation tied to an experience that brought her distress.
Xiao Ye’s competition for the height measurement illustrates a child's eagerness for recognition and acceptance, while also emphasizing how societal standards can pressure children and parents alike, impacting their self-esteem.
The narrative resolves the conflict by showcasing Tao Ying's decision to prioritize personal values over social expectations, leading to a powerful moment of affirmation for both her and Xiao Ye, ultimately reinforcing the importance of integrity.
The bus serves as a metaphorical and literal journey for Tao Ying and Xiao Ye. It encapsulates moments of decision-making, social interaction, and the moral dilemmas faced within the confines of societal structures.
Tao Ying embodies the duality of the working-class experience through her efforts to maintain dignity while battling the constraints of economic reality. Her story captures both her resilience as a mother and the sacrifices inherent in her role.
Her interaction with the bus conductor reveals societal attitudes towards authority and compliance. It exposes biases against working-class individuals and illustrates how rules can often overshadow empathy in daily interactions.
The author explores respect and dignity by portraying Tao Ying's determination to uphold her values even when faced with social prejudice and economic limitations, showing that personal integrity can exist despite societal pressures.

Chapters related to "One Centimetre"

I Sell my Dreams

This chapter explores the life of a woman who prophesizes through her dreams, revealing her impact on others' lives. It highlights themes of reality and fantasy, emphasizing the significance of dreams.

Start chapter

Eveline

This chapter portrays Eveline, a young woman torn between familial duty and the desire for a new life, highlighting the struggle for identity and personal freedom.

Start chapter

A Wedding in Brownsville

This chapter explores the complexities of a wedding attended by Dr. Solomon Margolin, reflecting on his past and the challenges of Jewish identity in America.

Start chapter

Tomorrow

This chapter explores themes of hope, madness, and the struggle between reality and delusion through the character of Captain Hagberd, who waits for his son’s return.

Start chapter

A Lecture Upon the Shadow

This chapter highlights John Donne's poem on love and shadows, emphasizing the complexity of human emotions and relationships.

Start chapter

Poems by Milton

This chapter explores the significant poems of John Milton, focusing on themes of time, mortality, and literary legacy. It is important for understanding Milton's contributions to English literature and his unique poetic style.

Start chapter

Poems by Blake

This chapter examines two significant poems by William Blake, emphasizing themes of human virtues and the duality of human experience.

Start chapter

Kubla Khan

This chapter explores S.T. Coleridge's poem that describes a fantastical vision inspired by a dream. It highlights the blend of reality and imagination, making it a significant example of Romantic poetry.

Start chapter

Trees

This chapter explores the poem 'Trees' by Emily Dickinson, highlighting its themes and significance. It delves into the poet's unique style and the beauty of nature as depicted in her work.

Start chapter

The Wild Swans at Coole

This chapter explores the themes of beauty, change, and the passage of time reflected through nature and swans.

Start chapter

One Centimetre Summary, Important Questions & Solutions | All Subjects

Question Bank

Worksheet

Revision Guide