Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
双(雙)shuāng(shuang1)
The character '双' (shuāng) primarily means 'double' or 'pair.' It is commonly used to refer to two of something, especially items that naturally come in pairs, such as shoes or chopsticks. In contexts involving numbers, it denotes even numbers as well.
Strokes4Radical又Frequency#916DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of pairs is significant, often symbolizing harmony and balance, as seen in traditional couples' gifts and paired decorations during festivals.
Memory tip
Imagine a pair of swans ('双' sounds like 'shuang') swimming together in perfect harmony. The two swans represent the idea of 'double' or 'pair,' and their synchronized movement helps you remember the character's meaning.
Meanings of 双
shuāng(shuang1)
1double
2two
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 双 means.
About 双
双Simplified
雙Traditional
4Strokes
又Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#916Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 双
Podcast: 双
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 双
Quick Contrast
双 (shuāng) vs 成对 (chéng duì) — use 双 when referring specifically to the quantity of two, while 成对 emphasizes the concept of being in pairs.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using '双' in formal contexts, as it may be less common than '两个' (liǎng gè) for simply saying 'two.' It often collocates with words like '鞋' (xié, shoes) and '胞胎' (bāotāi, twins). Remember to use the correct tone, as a mispronunciation might change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
'双' is part of HSK Level 3 vocabulary, linking with other numbers and measure words. Focus on its usage with pairs and practicing its pronunciation, especially in sentences where it modifies nouns.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '双' with '对' (duì), which also means 'pair' but is used in different contexts. For example, '双鞋' (shuāng xié) is correct for 'pair of shoes,' while using '对鞋' (duì xié) would be incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 双
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 双, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 双 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 双?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 双 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character '双' (shuāng) primarily means 'double' or 'pair.' It is commonly used to refer to two of something, especially items that naturally come in pairs, such as shoes or chopsticks. In contexts involving numbers, it denotes even numbers as well.
When to use 双
Be cautious when using '双' in formal contexts, as it may be less common than '两个' (liǎng gè) for simply saying 'two.' It often collocates with words like '鞋' (xié, shoes) and '胞胎' (bāotāi, twins). Remember to use the correct tone, as a mispronunciation might change the meaning.
双 or something close to it
双 (shuāng) vs 成对 (chéng duì) — use 双 when referring specifically to the quantity of two, while 成对 emphasizes the concept of being in pairs.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '双' with '对' (duì), which also means 'pair' but is used in different contexts. For example, '双鞋' (shuāng xié) is correct for 'pair of shoes,' while using '对鞋' (duì xié) would be incorrect.
Write 双
双
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 双 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 双
双 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
By mid-season the hostility between the two was undisguised.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 双?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Cultural Notes for 双
💡Did you know?
'双' is often used in various contexts in Chinese culture, such as '双喜' (double happiness), which symbolizes good fortune and is commonly seen at weddings.
Word Family of 双
Compounds3
轰hōngexplosion
聂nièto whisper; surname
蛧wǎng
Words containing this character20
双shuāngtwo雙
双方shuāngfāngbilateral雙方
双手shuāngshǒuboth hands雙手
双胞胎shuāngbāotāitwin雙胞胎
双重shuāngchóngdouble雙重
双子座shuāngzǐzuòGemini (constellation and sign of the zodiac)雙子座
双鱼座shuāngyúzuòPisces (constellation and sign of the zodiac)雙魚座
双人shuāngréntwo-person雙人
双向shuāngxiàngtwo-way雙向
双面shuāngmiàndouble-sided雙面
双边shuāngbiānbilateral雙邊
双关shuāngguānpun雙關
双层shuāngcéngdouble tier雙層
双亲shuāngqīnparents雙親
双臂shuāngbìarms雙臂
双脚shuāngjiǎotwo legs雙腳
双打shuāngdǎdoubles (in sports)雙打
双关语shuāngguānyǔpun雙關語
女双nǚshuāngwomen's doubles (in tennis, badminton etc)女雙
双休日shuāngxiūrìtwo-day weekend雙休日
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 双
What does 轰 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 双
Yes, 双 (Shuāng) is a surname in China, though it is not as common as others like Wang or Li. It can often be found among families in certain regions.
双 (shuāng) specifically refers to pairs or doubles, while 对 (duì) can mean 'opposite' or 'pair' but is often used in different contexts, such as in relationships or comparisons. Understanding the context is key to using these terms correctly.
双 (shuāng) means 'double' or 'pair' in Chinese. It can refer to two of something, and is often used in contexts like '双胞胎' (shuāng bāo tāi) which means 'twins'. Additionally, it can denote even numbers when discussing mathematics.
You can use 双 (shuāng) in sentences to indicate pairs. For example, '我有一双鞋' (Wǒ yǒu yī shuāng xié) means 'I have a pair of shoes'. It is commonly used with nouns to express the idea of two or a pair.
You can say '我买了一双鞋' (Wǒ mǎile yī shuāng xié), meaning 'I bought a pair of shoes.'
'双' can also refer to abstract pairs, such as '双胞胎' (shuāng bāotāi) for 'twins.'
'双' can also indicate even numbers in a mathematical context.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 双?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
