二 (èr) — two
HSK 1 | number | the digit two; used in isolation, ordinals, and compound numbers
二 (èr)
The number two; use 二 for standalone counting, ordinals, phone numbers, and positions in compound numbers. Use 两 (liǎng) when directly preceding a measure word (两个人, two people) or in quantities.
Meanings
- [number] Two, the digit 2.
Key Distinction: 二 vs. 两
- 二 is used when counting (一、二、三), in ordinals (第二, second), in compound numbers (二十, 20; 一百二, 120), and in phone or ID numbers.
- 两 is used directly before a measure word: 两个 (two, general), 两本 (two books), 两天 (two days).
- You say 两百 (two hundred) or 二百 — both are acceptable, but 两千 is more common than 二千.
Example Sentences
我家有两个孩子。 Wǒ jiā yǒu liǎng gè háizi. My family has two children. (两 before measure word)
她住在二楼。 Tā zhù zài èr lóu. She lives on the second floor. (二 in ordinal position)
这道题有两个答案。 Zhè dào tí yǒu liǎng gè dá'àn. This problem has two answers.
今天是二月二十号。 Jīntiān shì Èr yuè èrshí hào. Today is February 20th. (二 in date)
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 第二 (dì'èr) | second (ordinal) |
| 二月 (Èr yuè) | February |
| 二十 (èrshí) | twenty |
| 两个 (liǎng gè) | two (before measure word) |
| 两天 (liǎng tiān) | two days |
| 两百 (liǎng bǎi) | two hundred |
Memory Hook
二 is two horizontal strokes, one on top of the other — two lines for two. Count them with your eyes: one stroke, two strokes.