Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/二-(èr)-versus-两-(liǎng)

Differences between 二 (èr) and 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)

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

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)

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

• 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