Difference between revisions of "Comparing "er" and "liang""
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| − | {{Grammar Box}} | + | {{Grammar Box}} |
| − | In Chinese, there are two words for "two." | + | 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 | + | === 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. | + | 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 === | === Examples === | ||
| − | Here are some common examples of 二 in action: | + | Here are some common examples of 二 (èr) in action: |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 第 二 <span class="trans">#2; second</span> | + | * 第 <em>二</em> <span class="pinyin">dì-<em>èr</em></span><span class="trans">#2; second</span> |
| − | * 第 二 个 <span class="trans">the second one</span> | + | * 第 <em>二</em> 个 <span class="pinyin">dì-<em>èr</em> gè</span><span class="trans">the second one</span> |
| − | * 第 二 次 <span class="trans">the second time</span> | + | * 第 <em>二</em> 次 <span class="pinyin">dì-<em>èr</em> cì</span><span class="trans">the second time</span> |
| − | * 二 号 <span class="trans">#2; the second (of the month)</span> | + | * <em>二</em>月 <span class="pinyin"><em>Èr</em>yuè</span><span class="trans">February (the second month)</span> |
| − | * 二 号 线 <span class="trans">Line 2 ( | + | * <em>二</em> 号 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> hào</span><span class="trans">#2; the second (of the month)</span> |
| − | * 二 楼 <span class="trans">floor | + | * <em>二</em> 号 线 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> hào xiàn</span><span class="trans">Line 2 (of the metro)</span> |
| − | * 二 | + | * <em>二</em> 楼 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> lóu</span><span class="trans">second floor</span> |
| − | * 二 十 | + | * 十<em>二</em> <span class="pinyin">shí'<em>èr</em></span><span class="trans">12</span> |
| − | * | + | * <em>二</em>十 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em>shí</span><span class="trans">20</span> |
| − | * 二 十 | + | * 十<em>二</em> 块 钱 <span class="pinyin">shí'<em>èr</em> kuài qián</span><span class="trans">12 RMB</span> |
| − | * 二 | + | * <em>二</em> 十 块 钱 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em>shí kuài qián</span><span class="trans">20 RMB</span> |
| + | * <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> | ||
| − | == | + | == Uses of 两 (liǎng)== |
| − | === 两 | + | === 两 (liǎng) Is for Measure Words === |
| − | 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 | + | 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." |
| − | Here are some common examples of 两 in action: | + | Here are some common examples of 两 (liǎng) in action: |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 两 个 | + | *<em>两</em> 个 小时 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> gè xiǎoshí</span><span class="trans">two hours</span> |
| − | + | *<em>两</em> 点 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> diǎn</span><span class="trans">2 o'clock</span> | |
| − | * 两 | + | *<em>两</em> 天 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> tiān</span><span class="trans">two days</span> |
| − | + | *<em>两</em> 个 星期 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> gè xīngqī</span><span class="trans">two weeks</span> | |
| − | * 两 | + | *<em>两</em> 个 月 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> gè yuè</span><span class="trans">two months</span> |
| − | * 两 | + | *<em>两</em> 年 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> nián</span><span class="trans">two years</span> |
| − | + | *<em>两</em> 次 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> cì</span><span class="trans">two times / twice</span> | |
| − | * 两 个 月 <span class="trans">two months</span> | + | *<em>两</em> 块 钱 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> kuài qián</span><span class="trans">2 kuai / 2 RMB</span> |
| − | * 两 年 <span class="trans">two years</span> | + | *<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> |
| − | * 两 次 <span class="trans">two times / twice</span> | + | *<em>两</em>千 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> qiān</span><span class="trans">2,000</span> |
| − | * 两 块 钱 <span class="trans">2 kuai / 2 RMB</span> | + | *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 == | ||
| − | + | {{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|16-7}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|53}} | |
| + | {{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|28}} | ||
[[Category:grammar comparison]] | [[Category:grammar comparison]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|二|A1|二 vs 两|<em>两</em> 个 人。<em>二</em>十<em>二</em>。|grammar point|ASGJ46H1}} | + | {{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}} |
| + | {{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}} | ||
Latest revision as of 08:57, 21 April 2021
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 (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 #2; second
- 第 二 个 the second one
- 第 二 次 the second time
- 二月 February (the second month)
- 二 号 #2; the second (of the month)
- 二 号 线 Line 2 (of the metro)
- 二 楼 second floor
- 十二 12
- 二十 20
- 十二 块 钱 12 RMB
- 二 十 块 钱 20 RMB
- 二 十 二 个 人 twenty-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 two hours
- 两 点 2 o'clock
- 两 天 two days
- 两 个 星期 two weeks
- 两 个 月 two months
- 两 年 two years
- 两 次 two times / twice
- 两 块 钱 2 kuai / 2 RMB
- 两百 note: 二百 (èrbǎi) is also acceptable.200
- 两千 2,000
- 我 两 个 都 要 。 I want both of them.
Sources and further reading
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 16-7) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 53) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 28) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
