两 (liǎng) - Two & a unit of weight (50 grams)

两Tone 3

liǎng ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 一

梁嘹

两 · liǎng

Two;

a unit of weight (50 grams);

both;

a couple;

used before certain measure words.

Twoa unit of weight (50 grams)both

Usage highlights

Two peopleTwo sidesTwo countriesBoth partiesTwo liang weightTwo years

Synonyms

  • 二— two (cardinal number)
  • 双— pair, couple
  • 对— pair, couple

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I bought two apples (两个苹果).
  • This weighs two liang (两两).
  • Both sides agreed (双方都同意).
  • We have two cars (两辆车).

Collocations

  • Two people(两人)
  • Two sides(两边)
  • Two countries(两国)
  • Both parties(双方)
  • Two liang weight(两两)
  • Two years(两年)

Idioms

  • In two minds(三心两意)
  • Both sides suffer(两败俱伤)
  • Equally matched(势均力敌)
  • Kill two birds with one stone(一箭双雕)
  • Weigh both sides(权衡利弊)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used as a unit of weight in China, equal to 50 grams.
  • Used in the traditional Chinese measurement system for currency (tael).
  • Appears in many Chinese idioms expressing duality or balance.

FAQ