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)

二 (èr)is used in numbers

The number 2 is 二 (èr).

It is used in most cases for numbers, when you count to ten, when you give your phone number and so on.

Unlike 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, 两 (liǎng) is not necessary.

Examples

Here are some common examples of using 二 (èr):

• 第 二. Dì-èr

Second

• 第 二 个. Dì-èr gè

The second

• 第 二 次. Dì-èr cì

The second time

• 二 号. èr hào

The second

(of the month)

 

How to use 两 (liǎng)

两 is used with classifiers.

When specifying quantities (and using a classifier to do so), 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 两 (liǎng):

Examples

• 两 个 人. liǎng ge ren

two people

• 两 个 小时.liǎng ge xiǎoshí

two hours

(duration)

• 两 点. liǎng diǎn

2 hours

(when giving the time)

• 两 分钟. liǎng fēnzhōng

two minutes

• 两 秒. liǎng miǎo

two seconds