Difference between revisions of "Comparing "er" and "liang""
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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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An introduction to the different uses of 2 in Chines, 二 and 两.
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In Chinese, there are two words for "two." They are 二 (èr) and 两 (liǎng), and each is used in different circumstances.
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== Structure ==
 
  
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In Chinese, there are two words for two.
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== Uses of 二 (èr)==
  
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The digit 2 is 二 (èr). This is used generally in numbers, when counting to ten and so on. When specifying quantities, however, 两 (liǎng) is used. This is when you want to say "two ''of''" something.
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=== 二 (èr) Is for Numbers ===
  
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A good rule is that if a [[measure word]] is used, use 两. 二 does not generally occur with measure words.
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The digit "2" is 二 (èr). This is used generally in numbers, when counting to ten, giving out a phone number, and so on.  
  
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Also remember that two o'clock uses 两: 两点. It's two points on the clock, which is a quantity, so 两 is used.
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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.
  
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== Examples ==
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=== Examples ===
  
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Here are some common examples of 二 in action:
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Here are some common examples of 二 (èr) in action:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 第 二 <span class="trans">#2; second</span>
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* 第 <em>二</em> <span class="pinyin">dì-<em>èr</em></span><span class="trans">#2; second</span>
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* 第 二 个 <span class="trans">the second one</span>
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* 第 <em>二</em> 个 <span class="pinyin">dì-<em>èr</em> gè</span><span class="trans">the second one</span>
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* 二 号 <span class="trans">#2; the second (of the month)</span>
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* 第 <em>二</em> 次 <span class="pinyin">dì-<em>èr</em> cì</span><span class="trans">the second time</span>
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* 二 号 线 <span class="trans">Line 2 (as of a subway)</span>
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* <em>二</em>月 <span class="pinyin"><em>Èr</em>yuè</span><span class="trans">February (the second month)</span>
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* 二 楼 <span class="trans">floor 2</span>
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* <em>二</em> 号 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> hào</span><span class="trans">#2; the second (of the month)</span>
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* 二十二 <span class="trans">22</span>
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* <em>二</em> 号 线 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> hào xiàn</span><span class="trans">Line 2 (of the metro)</span>
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* 二百 <span class="expl">(note: 两百 is also acceptable.)</span> <span class="trans">200</span>
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* <em>二</em> 楼 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> lóu</span><span class="trans">second floor</span>
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* 十<em>二</em> <span class="pinyin">shí'<em>èr</em></span><span class="trans">12</span>
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* <em>二</em>十 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em>shí</span><span class="trans">20</span>
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* 十<em>二</em> 块 钱 <span class="pinyin">shí'<em>èr</em> kuài qián</span><span class="trans">12 RMB</span>
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* <em>二</em> 十 块 钱 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em>shí kuài qián</span><span class="trans">20 RMB</span>
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* <em>二</em> 十 <em>二</em> 个 人 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em>shí-<em>èr</em> gè rén</span><span class="trans">twenty-two people</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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Here are some common examples of 两 in action:
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== Uses of 两 (liǎng)==
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=== 两 (liǎng) Is for Measure Words ===
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When specifying quantities (and using [[measure word]]s to do it), 两 (liǎng) is used. This is when you want to say "two of something" or "both." 
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 +
Here are some common examples of 两 (liǎng) in action:
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 两 个 人 <span class="trans">two people</span>
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*<em>两</em> 个 小时 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> gè xiǎoshí</span><span class="trans">two hours</span>
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* 两 年 <span class="trans">two years</span>
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*<em>两</em> 点 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> diǎn</span><span class="trans">2 o'clock</span>
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* 两 个 月 <span class="trans">two months</span>
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*<em>两</em> 天 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> tiān</span><span class="trans">two days</span>
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* 两 天 <span class="trans">two days</span>
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*<em>两</em> 个 星期 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> gè xīngqī</span><span class="trans">two weeks</span>
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* 两点 <span class="trans">2 o'clock</span>
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*<em>两</em> 个 月 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> gè yuè</span><span class="trans">two months</span>
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* 两百 <span class="expl">(note: 二百 is also acceptable.)</span> <span class="trans">200</span>
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*<em>两</em> 年 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> nián</span><span class="trans">two years</span>
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* 两千 <span class="trans">2,000</span>
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*<em>两</em> 次 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> cì</span><span class="trans">two times / twice</span>
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* 两万 <span class="trans">20,000</span>
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*<em>两</em> 块 钱 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> kuài qián</span><span class="trans">2 kuai / 2 RMB</span>
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*<em>两</em>百 <span class="expl">note: 二百 (èrbǎi) is also acceptable.</span><span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em>bǎi</span><span class="trans">200</span>
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*<em>两</em>千 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> qiān</span><span class="trans">2,000</span>
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*我 <em>两</em> 个 都 要 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>liǎng</em> gè dōu yào.</span><span class="trans">I want both of them.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
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=== Books ===
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|16-7}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|53}}
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* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 16-7) [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 →buy]
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|28}}
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 53)[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 →buy]
 
  
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[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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[[Category:grammar comparison]]
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{{Basic Grammar|二|A1|二/两|<em>两</em> 个 人。<em>二</em>十<em>二</em>。|grammar point|ASGJ46H1}}
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
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{{Basic Grammar|二|A1|二 vs 两|<em>两</em> 个 人。<em>二</em> 十 <em>二</em>。|grammar point|ASGJ46H1}}
 
{{Similar|Structure of numbers}}
 
{{Similar|Structure of numbers}}
 
{{Rel char|两}}
 
{{Rel char|两}}
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{{POS|Numbers}}
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{{Comparison|Numbers}}
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{{Translation|two}}
 
{{Used for| Expressing quantity}}
 
{{Used for| Expressing quantity}}

Latest revision as of 08:57, 21 April 2021

Chinese-grammar-wiki－二.jpg

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 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 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


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