Comparing "er" and "liang"

In Chinese, there are two words for two.This is an introduction to the different uses of "2" in Chinese, namely 二 (èr) and 两 (liǎng).

uses of 二

二 is used in numbers

The digit 2 is 二 (èr). This is used generally in numbers, when counting to ten and so on.

A good rule is that if a measure word is used, use 两. 二 does not generally occur with measure words by itself. But 十二，二十二， 二百 can occur with measure words.

Examples

Here are some common examples of 二 in action:

• 第 二 #2; second
• 第 二 个 the second one
• 第 二 次 the second time
• 二 号 #2; the second (of the month)
• 二 号 线 Line 2 (as of a subway)
• 二 楼 floor 2
• 二 十 20
• 二 十 块 钱 22 RMB
• 二 十 二 22
• 二 十 二 个 人twenty two people
• 二 百 (note: 两百 is also acceptable.) 200
• 二 等奖 NEED TRANSLATION
• 二 年级 NEED TRANSLATION
• 二 层 小 楼 NEED TRANSLATION

uses of 两

两 is used with measure word

When specifying quantities, however, 两 (liǎng) is used. This is when you want to say "two of something. Note that two o'clock uses 两: 两点. It's two points on the clock, which is a quantity, so 两 is used. Also remember that in someplace people prefer 两 than 二. Hope it won't confuse you.

Here are some common examples of 两 in action:

Examples

• 两 个 人 two people
• 两个小时two hours
• 两分钟two minutes
• 两秒two seconds
• 两点 2 o'clock
• 两 天 two days
• 两个星期two weeks
• 两 个 月 two months
• 两 年 two years
• 我去了上海两次。NEED TRANSLATION
• 我家里有两只小猫。NEED TRANSLATION
• 我只有两块钱。NEED TRANSLATION
• 我要两杯咖啡。NEED TRANSLATION
• 两百 (note: 二百 is also acceptable.) 200
• 两千 2,000
• 两万 20,000

Sources and further reading

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 16-7) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 53)→buy