"Èr" "二" and "liǎng" "两"
In Chinese, there are two words for "two." They are 二 (èr) and 两 (liǎng), and each is used in different circumstances.
Contents
Uses of 二 (èr)
二 is used in numbers
The digit "2" is 二 (èr). This is used generally in numbers, when counting to ten, giving out a phone number, and so on.
Unlike 两 (liǎng), 二 (èr) is not used to say there are "two" of something, and does not generally occur with measure words by itself. Numbers like 十二 (12) (shí-èr) and 二十二 (22) (èrshí-èr) end with a "2" and can still be combined with measure words. In those cases, 两 (liǎng) is not needed.
Examples
Here are some common examples of 二 (èr) in action:
- 第 二
dì- èr
#2; second
- 第 二 个
dì- èr gè
the second one
- 第 二 次
dì- èr cì
the second time
- 二 月
Èr yuè
February (the second month)
- 二 号
èr hào
#2; the second (of the month)
- 二 号 线
èr hào xiàn
Line 2 (of the metro)
- 二 楼
èr lóu
second floor
- 二 十
èr shí
20
- 二 十 块 钱
èr shí kuài qián
20 RMB
- 二 十 二 个 人 èr shí- èr ge rén
twenty-two people
Uses of 两 (liǎng)
两 is used with measure words
When specifying quantities (and using measure words to do it), 两 (liǎng) is used. This is when you want to say "two of something" or "both."
Here are some common examples of 两 (liǎng) in action:
Examples
- 两 个 小时
liǎng ge xiǎoshí
two hours
- 两 点
liǎng diǎn
2 o'clock
- 两 天
liǎng tiān
two days
- 两 个 星期
liǎng ge xīngqī
two weeks
- 两 个 月
liǎng ge yuè
two months
- 两 年
liǎng nián
two years
- 两 次
liǎng cì
two times / twice
- 两 块 钱
liǎng kuài qián
2 kuai / 2 RMB
- 两 百 note: 二百 (èrbǎi) is also acceptable.
èr bǎi
200
- 两 千
liǎng qiān
2,000
- 我 两 个 都 要 。
Wǒ liǎng ge dōu yào.
I want both of them.
Sources and further reading
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 16-7)
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 53)
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide(p. 28)