Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
兩liǎng(liang3)
The character '兩' (liǎng) primarily means 'two' or 'a pair.' It is often used to denote quantities, especially in terms of weight (as in ounces) and when counting items in pairs. This character is commonly used in everyday conversation and in various contexts, such as shopping or giving directions.
Strokes8Radical入Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of pairs is significant, often linked to harmony and balance, as seen in traditional customs such as giving gifts in pairs. The character '兩' embodies this idea of duality.
Memory Tip
Imagine two swans (like the radical for 'two' on the left and the weight on the right) swimming together in harmony. The pronunciation 'liǎng' sounds like 'link,' which you can remember as linking two items together.
Meanings of 兩
liǎng(liang3)
1two, both, pair, couple; ounce
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 兩
兩Simplified
8Strokes
入Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 兩
Podcast: 兩
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 兩
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine two swans (like the radical for 'two' on the left and the weight on the right) swimming together in harmony. The pronunciation 'liǎng' sounds like 'link,' which you can remember as linking two items together.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse '兩' with '二' (èr), which also means 'two' but is used in different contexts. '兩' is typically used with measure words to indicate a quantity, while '二' is used in counting. Be mindful of using '兩' when referring to pairs or specific measurements.
HSK Study Tips
Although '兩' is not included in the HSK levels, it is relevant for learners at the elementary level (HSK 1-2) as it helps build foundational vocabulary regarding numbers and measurements. Focus on practicing it in context with measure words.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of pairs is significant, often linked to harmony and balance, as seen in traditional customs such as giving gifts in pairs. The character '兩' embodies this idea of duality.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use '兩' when counting items in a sequence, such as saying '我有兩本書' (Wǒ yǒu liǎng běn shū - I have two books), which is correct. However, they may confuse it with '二' when writing numbers in formal contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 兩
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 兩 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 兩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 兩
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of pairs is significant, often linked to harmony and balance, as seen in traditional customs such as giving gifts in pairs. The character '兩' embodies this idea of duality.
Word Family of 兩
Words Containing This Character18
两liǎngtwo兩
两国both countries兩國
两岸liǎng’ànbilateral兩岸
两者both sides兩者
两边liǎngbianeither side兩邊
两头both ends兩頭
两面both sides兩面
两旁both sides兩旁
两端two extremes兩端
两样two kinds兩樣
两码事two quite different things兩碼事
进退两难trapped進退兩難
两难dilemma兩難
两下twice兩下
两性male and female兩性
两用dual-use兩用
两下子a couple of times兩下子
一国两制one country, two systems (PRC proposal regarding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan)一國兩制
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 两 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 兩
'兩' is generally used in informal contexts or when speaking, whereas in formal writing or documents, '二' is preferred.
You can use '兩' with measure words like '個' (gè) or '斤' (jīn) to specify quantities, e.g., '兩個人' (liǎng gè rén) means 'two people'.
