In Chinese, there are two words for "two." They are 二 (èr) and 两
(liǎng), and each is used in different circumstances.
Uses of 二 (èr)
---------------
### 二 (èr) Is for 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](measure_words "wikilink") 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
gèthe second one
- 第 二 次 dì-èr
cìthe second time
- 二月
ÈryuèFebruary
(the second month)
- 二 号 èr
hào\#2; the second (of the month)
- 二 号 线 èr hào
xiànLine 2 (of the metro)
- 二 楼 èr
lóusecond floor
- 十二
shí'èr12
- 二十
èrshí20
- 十二 块 钱 shí'èr kuài
qián12 RMB
- 二 十 块 钱 èrshí kuài
qián20 RMB
- 二 十 二 个 人
èrshí-èr gè
réntwenty-two people
Uses of 两 (liǎng)
------------------
### 两 (liǎng) Is for Measure Words
When specifying quantities (and using [measure
words](measure_word "wikilink") 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 gè
xiǎoshítwo hours
- 两 点 liǎng
diǎn2 o'clock
- 两 天 liǎng
tiāntwo days
- 两 个 星期 liǎng gè
xīngqītwo weeks
- 两 个 月 liǎng gè
yuètwo months
- 两 年 liǎng
niántwo years
- 两 次 liǎng
cìtwo times / twice
- 两 块 钱 liǎng kuài
qián2 kuai / 2 RMB
- 两百 note: 二百 (èrbǎi) is also
acceptable.liǎngbǎi200
- 两千 liǎng
qiān2,000
- 我 两 个 都 要 。 Wǒ liǎng gè
dōu yào.I want both of them.
Sources and further reading
---------------------------
- [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (pp.
16-7)
[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
(3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (p.
53)[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385)
- [Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical
Guide](Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide "wikilink") (p.
28)
[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108)
[Category:grammar comparison](Category:grammar_comparison "wikilink")