Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/二-(èr)-versus-两-(liǎng)
In Chinese, there are two words to say "two".
Here is an introduction to the different uses of "2" in Chinese, 二 (èr) and 两 (liǎng).
How to use 二 (èr)[edit | edit source]
The number 2 is 二 (èr).
二 (èr) is used in most cases for numbers, when you count to ten, when you give your phone number and so on.
Unlike 兩/两 (liǎng), 二 (èr) is not used in itself for classifiers.
Numbers like 十二 (12) (shí èr) and 二十二 (22) (èr shí èr) end with “2” and can always be combined with classifiers.
In these cases, 兩/两 (liǎng) is not necessary.
Examples[edit | edit source]
Here are some common examples of using 二 (èr):
- 第 二 dì-èr
the second
- 第 二 個/第 二 个 dì-èr gè
the second one
- 第 二 次/第 二 次 dì-èr cì
the second time
- 二 號/二 号 èr hào
the second (of the month)/number two
How to use 兩/两 (liǎng)[edit | edit source]
兩/两 is used with classifiers.
When specifying quantities (and using a classifier to do so), 兩/两 (liǎng) is used.
It is used to express either "two unit or entity of something" or "both".
Here are some examples of the use of 兩/两 (liǎng):
Examples[edit | edit source]
- 兩 個 人/两 个 人 liǎng ge ren
two people
- 兩 個 小時/两 个 小时 liǎng ge xiǎoshí
two hours
- 兩 點/两 点 liǎng diǎn
two o'clock
- 兩 分鐘/两 分钟 liǎng fēnzhōng
two minutes
- 兩 秒/两 秒 liǎng miǎo
two seconds
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Plurals
- Ask how to do something with 怎么 (zěnme)
- Questions
- Mastering Chinese Grammar Easily – 8 Rules You Need to Know
- Transition words
- Adjectives
- How to ask a question in Chinese
- 呢 ne
- Connect two nouns with 是 (shì)
- Nouns