两
liǎngTraditional: 兩
Translation
two, a couple of
Word origin
An ancient pictograph thought to depict a pair of balanced objects or a yoke, used for the number two before a measure word, as opposed to 二 in counting.
- Origin
- pictograph
- Root
- depiction of a balanced pair
Stroke order
两
Examples
。
I have two older brothers.
。
Please give me two cups of tea.
。
The two of them are good friends.
。
There are two sides to this matter.
。
I will come again in a couple of days.
两 (liǎng) means two and is the form used before a measure word, such as 两个 (two of something), whereas 二 is used for counting and figures. It can also mean a couple of in loose usage.
Used in
Stories
(1)Grammar articles
(14)Mandarin Advanced Grammar (C1-C2 / HSK 6+): Chengyu, Classical Remnants, and Register
Approximation and Rounding in Mandarin: 左右, 大概, 差不多, 几 and 来 for About, Around and Roughly
Mandarin Grammar Cheatsheet: The Essentials, One Page
Mandarin Classifiers (Measure Words): 个, 本, 张, 只, 条, and the Rule That Every Counted Noun Needs One
Asking How + Adjective in Mandarin with 多: 多高, 多远, 多长, 多大
The Double 了 Sentence in Mandarin: 我学了三年中文了 and the Continuing-Action Pattern
Duration Complements in Mandarin (时量补语): How to Say How Long an Action Lasts
The Mandarin Durative 着 (zhe): Marking a State That Continues (门开着, 拿着书, 笑着说)
Mandarin Existential and Presentative Sentences: 有, 出现, 发生 and Why New Things Go After the Verb
The Experiential 过 (guò) in Mandarin: Saying You Have Ever Done Something
The Two 了 in Mandarin: Completion 了 After the Verb vs Change-of-State 了 at the End
Mandarin Numbers, Time, Dates, and Currency: From 1 to 1,000,000, the 二/两 Split, and Time-Before-Verb
The Mandarin 是…的 (shì...de) Construction: Highlighting When, Where, and How Something Happened
Topic-Comment Structure in Mandarin: Fronting 这本书我看过 and Why Word Order Bends
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Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 30.