语法 · HSK 1–2
二 (èr) vs 两 (liǎng): two ways to say "two" in Chinese
Use 两 before a measure word when counting things (两个人 "two people", 两本书 "two books", 两点 "two o'clock") and before 千, 万 and 亿. Use 二 when counting in numbers (一、二、三), in ordinals (第二 "second", 二月 "February"), in phone or room numbers, and for 十二 (12) and 二十 (20).
句型Patterns
两 + Measure word + Noun两个人, 两杯咖啡, 两年, 两岁.第 + 二 / 二 + 十 / 十 + 二Ordinals and tens/teens: 第二名, 二十块, 十二月.两千 / 两万 (or 二百 / 两百)Large round numbers take 两 (百 accepts both, 两百 is more common in speech).
例句Examples
- 我有两本中文书。wǒ yǒu liǎng běn zhōng wén shū.I have two Chinese books.
- 现在是下午两点。xiàn zài shì xià wǔ liǎng diǎn.It's two o'clock in the afternoon now.
- 我家住在二楼。wǒ jiā zhù zài èr lóu.My family lives on the second floor.
- 他们班有二十二个学生。tā men bān yǒu èr shí èr gè xué sheng.There are twenty-two students in their class.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我有二个弟弟。
✓我有两个弟弟。
Before a measure word like 个, always use 两.
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✗今天是两月十号。
✓今天是二月十号。
Months are numbered in order, so February is 二月 (whereas "two months" is 两个月).
-
✗他是第两名。
✓他是第二名。
Ordinals with 第 always use 二.
重点词语Words in this guide
Common questions
What is the difference between 二月 and 两个月?
二月 is "February" (month number two); 两个月 is "two months" (a duration of two months).