两 liǎng — both; two; ounce; some; a few; tael
我有两个妹妹。Wǒ yǒu liǎng ge mèi mei.I have two younger sisters.
Common words: 两边 (liǎng biān)、两岸 (liǎng àn)、两侧 (liǎng cè)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "two"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "two", including 两 (liǎng), 二 (èr), 双 (shuāng), 倍 (bèi), 俩 (liǎ / liǎng). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "two" covers 5 different Chinese characters — 两 (liǎng), 二 (èr), 双 (shuāng), 倍 (bèi), 俩 (liǎ / liǎng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 5 characters do not share a sound — their readings span liǎng, èr, shuāng, bèi, liǎ — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 两 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 两 liǎngboth; two; ounce; some; a few; taelUseful words: 两边, 两岸
- 二 èrtwo; 2Useful words: 第二, 二手
- 双 shuāngtwo; double; pair; bothUseful words: 双方, 双手
- 倍 bèi(two; three; etc) -fold; times (multiplier); double; to increase or multiplyUseful words: 成倍, 十倍
- 俩 liǎ / liǎng(a numeral-measure word) two; both; craft; cunningUseful words: 俩钱, 哥俩
Common words for these 5 "two" characters
Anchor each of these 5 characters in a word you can picture — start with 两 (liǎng) — so "two" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
两边liǎng biāneither side; both sides两岸liǎng ànbilateral; both shores; both sides; both coasts两侧liǎng cètwo sides; both sides第二dì èrsecond; number two; next; secondary二手èr shǒuindirectly acquired; second-hand (information, equipment etc); assistant二维码èr wéi mǎ2D barcode; matrix code; (esp.) QR code双方shuāng fāngbilateral; both sides; both parties involved双手shuāng shǒuboth hands双胞胎shuāng bāo tāitwin成倍chéng bèitwofold; manyfold; exponentially
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 5 ways to say "two".
二 èr — two; 2
我家在二楼。Wǒ jiā zài èr lóu.My home is on the second floor.
Common words: 第二 (dì èr)、二手 (èr shǒu)、二维码 (èr wéi mǎ)
双 shuāng — two; double; pair; both
她给我买了一双新鞋。Tā gěi wǒ mǎi le yì shuāng xīn xié.She bought me a new pair of shoes.
Common words: 双方 (shuāng fāng)、双手 (shuāng shǒu)、双胞胎 (shuāng bāo tāi)
倍 bèi — (two; three; etc) -fold; times (multiplier); double; to increase or multiply
这本书的价钱是那本的两倍。Zhè běn shū de jià qián shì nà běn de liǎng bèi.The price of this book is twice that of that one.
Common words: 成倍 (chéng bèi)、十倍 (shí bèi)、三倍 (sān bèi)
俩 liǎ / liǎng — (a numeral-measure word) two; both; craft; cunning
咱们俩是从小一起长大的朋友。Zán men liǎ shì cóng xiǎo yì qǐ zhǎng dà de péng you.The two of us are friends who grew up together.
Common words: 俩钱 (liǎ qián)、哥俩 (gē liǎ)、姐俩 (jiě liǎ)
All 5 characters
Open 两、二、双 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.