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).
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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.
  
 
== Uses of 二 (èr)==
 
== Uses of 二 (èr)==
  
=== 二 is used in numbers===
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=== 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.  
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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.  
  
Unlike 两 (liǎng), 二 (èr) 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 this case, 两 (liǎng) is not needed.
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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.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 第 <em>二</em> <span class="pinyin">-<em>èr</em></span><span class="trans">#2; second</span>
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* 第 <em>二</em> <span class="pinyin">-<em>èr</em></span><span class="trans">#2; second</span>
* 第 <em>二</em> 个 <span class="pinyin">-<em>èr</em> gè</span><span class="trans">the second one</span>
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* 第 <em>二</em> 个 <span class="pinyin">-<em>èr</em> gè</span><span class="trans">the second one</span>
* 第 <em>二</em> 次 <span class="pinyin">-<em>èr</em> cì</span><span class="trans">the second time</span>
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* 第 <em>二</em> 次 <span class="pinyin">-<em>èr</em> cì</span><span class="trans">the second time</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>
 
* <em>二</em> 号 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> hào</span><span class="trans">#2; the second (of the month)</span>
 
* <em>二</em> 号 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> hào</span><span class="trans">#2; the second (of the month)</span>
 
* <em>二</em> 号 线 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> hào xiàn</span><span class="trans">Line 2 (of the metro)</span>
 
* <em>二</em> 号 线 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> hào xiàn</span><span class="trans">Line 2 (of the metro)</span>
 
* <em>二</em> 楼 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> lóu</span><span class="trans">second floor</span>
 
* <em>二</em> 楼 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em> lóu</span><span class="trans">second floor</span>
* <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> <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>
 
* <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 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> ge rén</span><span class="trans">twenty-two people</span>
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* <em>二</em> 十 <em>二</em> 个 人 <span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em>shí-<em>èr</em> rén</span><span class="trans">twenty-two people</span>
* <em>二</em> 百 <span class="expl">(note: 两百 is also acceptable.)</span><span class="pinyin"><em>èr</em>bǎi</span><span class="trans">200</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Uses of 两 (liǎng)==
 
== Uses of 两 (liǎng)==
  
=== 两 is used with measure words ===
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=== 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" or "both".  
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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."   
  
 
Here are some common examples of 两 (liǎng) in action:
 
Here are some common examples of 两 (liǎng) in action:
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>两</em> 个 小时 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> ge xiǎoshí</span><span class="trans">two hours</span>
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*<em>两</em> 个 小时 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> xiǎoshí</span><span class="trans">two hours</span>
* <em>两</em> 点 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> diǎn</span><span class="expl">(Think of it as "two points on the clock," which is a quantity)</span><span class="trans">2 o'clock</span>
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*<em>两</em> 点 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> diǎn</span><span class="trans">2 o'clock</span>
* <em>两</em> 天 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> tiān</span><span class="trans">two days</span>
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*<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> ge xīngqī</span><span class="trans">two weeks</span>
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*<em>两</em> 个 星期 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> xīngqī</span><span class="trans">two weeks</span>
* <em>两</em> 个 月 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> ge yuè</span><span class="trans">two months</span>
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*<em>两</em> 个 月 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> yuè</span><span class="trans">two months</span>
* <em>两</em> 年 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> nián</span><span class="trans">two years</span>
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*<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>
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*<em>两</em> 次 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> cì</span><span class="trans">two times / twice</span>
* <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> 块 钱 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> kuài qián</span><span class="trans">2 kuai / 2 RMB</span>
* <em>两</em> 千 <span class="pinyin"><em>liǎng</em> qiān</span><span class="trans">2,000</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>
* 我 <em>两</em> 个 都 要 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>liǎng</em> ge dōu yào.</span><span class="trans">I want both of them.</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> 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 ==
  
* [[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|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|16-7}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 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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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|53}}
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (p. 28) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|28}}
  
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
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{{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}}
 
{{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}}

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:

  • dì-èr#2; second
  • dì-èrthe second one
  • dì-èrthe second time
  • ÈryuèFebruary (the second month)
  • èr hào#2; the second (of the month)
  • 号 线 èr hào xiànLine 2 (of the metro)
  • èr lóusecond floor
  • shí'èr12
  • èrshí20
  • 块 钱 shí'èr kuài qián12 RMB
  • 十 块 钱 èrshí kuài qián20 RMB
  • 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

  • 个 小时 liǎng gè xiǎoshítwo hours
  • liǎng diǎn2 o'clock
  • liǎng tiāntwo days
  • 个 星期 liǎng gè xīngqītwo weeks
  • 个 月 liǎng gè yuètwo months
  • liǎng niántwo years
  • liǎngtwo times / twice
  • 块 钱 liǎng kuài qián2 kuai / 2 RMB
  • note: 二百 (èrbǎi) is also acceptable.liǎngbǎi200
  • liǎng qiān2,000
  • 个 都 要 。 liǎng gè dōu yào.I want both of them.

Sources and further reading