Comparing "er" and "liang"

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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 (èr)

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.

Unlike 两 (liǎng), 二 (èr) does not generally occur with measure words by itself. Numbers like 十二 (12) and 二十二 (22) end with a "2" and can still be combined with measure words. In this case, 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 号 èr hào#2; the second (of the month)
  • 二 号 线 èr hào xiànLine 2 (of the metro)
  • 二 楼 èr lóusecond floor
  • 二 十 èrshí20
  • 二 十 块 钱 èrshí kuài qián20 RMB
  • 二 十 二 èrshí-èr22
  • 二 十 二 个 人 èrshí-èr ge réntwenty-two people
  • 二 百 (note: 两百 is also acceptable.)èrbǎi200

Uses of 两 (liǎng)

两 is used with 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 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
  • 他 们 两 个 人 一 起 走。 The two of them (both of them) walk together.
  • 我 两 个 都 要。 I want both of them.

Sources and further reading