Chinese Grammar Reference logo

    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing two with a classifier using 两 (liǎng)

    Numbers & Quantity

    Structure

    两 + Measure Word + Noun

    Explanation

    两 (liǎng) means 'two' and is used before measure words and nouns, unlike 二 (èr), which is used for counting and math. When specifying a quantity of two items, 两 is the correct choice, as in 两个人 (two people) or 两本书 (two books).

    Examples

    • 我买了两杯咖啡，一杯给你。

      Wǒ mǎi le liǎng bēi kāfēi, yī bēi gěi nǐ.

      I bought two cups of coffee, one for you.

    • 他有两个姐姐和一个弟弟。

      Tā yǒu liǎng gè jiějie hé yī gè dìdi.

      He has two older sisters and one younger brother.

    • 我们在那里住了两天。

      Wǒmen zài nàlǐ zhù le liǎng tiān.

      We stayed there for two days.

    Similar Grammar

    Often Confused With

    Expressing two with a classifier using 两 (liǎng) | Chinese Grammar