numeral HSK 1
two · 2
Meaning
The number two in Chinese. It is one of the most fundamental numerals and appears in countless everyday contexts. While 二 (èr) is the standard form for the number 2, when counting objects with measure words, speakers often use 两 (liǎng) instead.
Usage
Use 二 for cardinal numbers, ordinal positions (第二), dates, phone numbers, and after 十 in numbers like 十二. Use 两 (liǎng) when you're counting things with measure words, like 两个人 (two people), not 二个人. In slang, 二 can mean 'stupid' or 'foolish' when describing someone as 很二.
Examples
- 01我家有二十口人。.My family has twenty people.
- 02今天是二月二号，星期二。, .Today is February 2nd, Tuesday.
Common collocations
- 二月February
- 星期二Tuesday
- 二十twenty
- 第二个the second one
Antonyms
Origin
Originally represented by two horizontal lines in oracle bone script, symbolizing the concept of two units or a pair. The modern form evolved from these ancient strokes.