Difference between revisions of "Comparing "er" and "liang""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | 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). | + | 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 == | == uses of 二 == | ||
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=== 二 is used in numbers=== | === 二 is used in numbers=== | ||
| − | The digit 2 is 二 (èr). This is used generally in numbers, when counting to ten 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. |
| − | A good rule is that if a [[measure word]] is used, use 两. 二 does not generally occur with measure words by itself. | + | A good rule is that if a [[measure word]] is used, use 两. 二 does not generally occur with measure words by itself. Although numbers like 十二 (12) and 二十二 (22) end with a "2," they can still combine directly with measure words (no 两 needed). |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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* 二 楼 <span class="trans">floor 2</span> | * 二 楼 <span class="trans">floor 2</span> | ||
* 二 十 <span class="trans">20</span> | * 二 十 <span class="trans">20</span> | ||
| − | * 二 十 块 钱 <span class="trans"> | + | * 二 十 块 钱 <span class="trans">20 RMB</span> |
* 二 十 二 <span class="trans">22</span> | * 二 十 二 <span class="trans">22</span> | ||
* 二 十 二 个 人<span class="trans">twenty two people</span> | * 二 十 二 个 人<span class="trans">twenty two people</span> | ||
* 二 百 <span class="expl">(note: 两百 is also acceptable.)</span> <span class="trans">200</span> | * 二 百 <span class="expl">(note: 两百 is also acceptable.)</span> <span class="trans">200</span> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
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=== 两 is used with measure word === | === 两 is used with measure word === | ||
| − | When specifying quantities | + | 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''. |
Here are some common examples of 两 in action: | Here are some common examples of 两 in action: | ||
| + | |||
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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* 两 个 人 <span class="trans">two people</span> | * 两 个 人 <span class="trans">two people</span> | ||
| − | * | + | * 两 个 小时 <span class="trans">two hours</span> |
| − | * | + | * 两 分钟 <span class="trans">two minutes</span> |
| − | * | + | * 两 秒 <span class="trans">two seconds</span> |
| − | * | + | * 两 点 <span class="expl">(Think of it as "two points on the clock," which is a quantity)</span><span class="trans">2 o'clock</span> |
* 两 天 <span class="trans">two days</span> | * 两 天 <span class="trans">two days</span> | ||
* 两个星期<span class="trans">two weeks</span> | * 两个星期<span class="trans">two weeks</span> | ||
* 两 个 月 <span class="trans">two months</span> | * 两 个 月 <span class="trans">two months</span> | ||
* 两 年 <span class="trans">two years</span> | * 两 年 <span class="trans">two years</span> | ||
| − | * | + | * 两 次 <span class="trans">two times / twice</span> |
| − | + | * 两 块 钱 <span class="trans">2 kuai / 2 RMB</span> | |
| − | * | ||
| − | |||
* 两百 <span class="expl">(note: 二百 is also acceptable.)</span> <span class="trans">200</span> | * 两百 <span class="expl">(note: 二百 is also acceptable.)</span> <span class="trans">200</span> | ||
* 两千 <span class="trans">2,000</span> | * 两千 <span class="trans">2,000</span> | ||
Revision as of 06:39, 9 September 2013
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).
Contents
uses of 二
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.
A good rule is that if a measure word is used, use 两. 二 does not generally occur with measure words by itself. Although numbers like 十二 (12) and 二十二 (22) end with a "2," they can still combine directly with measure words (no 两 needed).
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 20 RMB
- 二 十 二 22
- 二 十 二 个 人twenty two people
- 二 百 (note: 两百 is also acceptable.) 200
uses of 两
两 is used with measure word
When specifying quantities (and using measure words to do it), 两 (liǎng) is used. This is when you want to say "two of something.
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 (Think of it as "two points on the clock," which is a quantity)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 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
