Different ways of expressing two in Chinese
Did you know that in Chinese culture, pairs are good symbols for each other? This is why there are various ways to express 2 in Chinese. Like “two”, “two”, “two”, “double”, “pair “. Do you know the proper occasion for using them? Let us explore them together.
When you count, talk about age, day, month, year, ID, passport number, flight number, license plate number, building number, flat number and room number, we use “二” pronounced as “èr”。
The word “两” also means two, but it is often used together with measure word, such as: “两只猪”（two pigs）, “两匹马”（ two horses）, “两头大象”(two elephants), “两架飞机”（two airplanes）, “两个人”（two people）, “两台电视机”（two televisions）, etc.
In addition to indicating two, “两” itself is also a unit name, whitch indicating 50g. For example, “二两茶” means 100g of tea, and “二两白酒” means 100g White wine, but when you make a Chinese friend that is not enough.
In addition, “two” is also used with nouns, for example, “两岸”（two shores）, “两地”（two places）, “两类”（two types）, etc. There are also some idioms for “两”, which are in the picture.
The word “俩” can be used singly, meaning two. For example, “你们几个人用餐？”（”How many of you are dining?”） “俩”（”Two.”）
It can also be followed by a noun or noun phrase. “俩桌子”“俩椅子”“俩娃娃”“俩猫咪”“俩人”（”two tables” “two chairs” “two dolls” “two cats” “two people”）
Usually we use it like this, “我（们）俩”（”us two”）, “你（们）俩”（”you two”）, “娘俩”（” Female elders and juniors”）, “爷俩””male elders and juniors”。
Both “双” and “对” mean pair, but “双” is used closer to the person or body part, such as the example in the picture, and “pair” means other things that in pair, you can cleck the example to feel it.
Do you know any other Chinese characters of “two”? Okay, let’s do some exercises.
___只鸟（two birds） 我住___(302)号房间(I live in room 302) __腿（two legs） __眼（two eyes）