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两 vs 二

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Structure (结构 jiégòu)

两Measure word(Noun) | Dùng 二 trong số đếm, số thứ tự, và các con số.

Meaning (意思 yìsi)

两 (liǎng) is used to express the quantity 'two' before measure words, while 二 (èr) is used in counting, ordinal numbers, and larger numbers.

Explanation (解释 jiěshì)

Both 两 (liǎng) and 二 (èr) mean 'two', but they cannot be used interchangeably. The main rules are:

  • Use 两 when talking about quantity with a measure word. For example: 两个人 (two people), 两本书 (two books).
  • Use 二 when counting numbers (一, 二, 三...), referring to ordinal numbers (e.g. 第二 - second, 二楼 - second floor), or in larger numbers such as 12, 22.

One important note: for hundreds, thousands, and ten-thousands, 两 is generally preferred, e.g. 两百 (200), 两千 (2000).

Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)

  1. 我有两个苹果。
    繁: 我有兩個蘋果。Wǒ yǒu liǎng ge píngguǒ.

    I have two apples.

  2. 他买了两本书。
    繁: 他買了兩本書。Tā mǎi le liǎng běn shū.

    He bought two books.

  3. 现在十二点了。
    繁: 現在十二點了。Xiànzài shí'èr diǎn le.

    It is now twelve o'clock.

  4. 这是第二课。
    繁: 這是第二課。Zhè shì dì-èr kè.

    This is the second lesson.

  5. 这件衣服两百块。
    繁: 這件衣服兩百塊。Zhè jiàn yīfu liǎng bǎi kuài.

    This garment costs two hundred yuan.