二 (èr)vs两 (liǎng)
Both mean "two", but one is for counting numbers and the other is for quantities.
二 (èr)
Used for counting, math, ordinal numbers, and digits.
两 (liǎng)
Used for quantities of items, almost always followed by a measure word.
| Feature | 二 (èr) | 两 (liǎng) |
|---|---|---|
| Usage | Math, Counting, Ranking | Quantities of nouns |
| With Measure Words | ❌ Rare | ✅ Always (e.g. 两个人) |
translateCompare Examples
✅
他排第二。
Tā pái dì èr.
He ranks second.
Ordinal number.
✅
我有两个苹果。
Wǒ yǒu liǎng gè píngguǒ.
I have two apples.
Quantity with a measure word.