{"id":3133,"date":"2019-11-03T19:52:42","date_gmt":"2019-11-03T19:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chinesemoment.com\/chinese-grammar\/difference-between-quot-er-quot-and-quot-liang-quot-in-chinese\/"},"modified":"2019-11-03T19:52:42","modified_gmt":"2019-11-03T19:52:42","slug":"difference-between-quot-er-quot-and-quot-liang-quot-in-chinese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinesemoment.com\/de\/difference-between-quot-er-quot-and-quot-liang-quot-in-chinese\/","title":{"rendered":"Difference between "Er" and "liang" in Chinese"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

This is an introduction to the different uses of "2" in Chinese, namely \u4e8c (èr) and \u4e24 (li\u01ceng).<\/p>\n

Structure<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Chinese, there are two words for two.<\/p>\n

The digit 2 is \u4e8c (èr). This is used generally in numbers, when counting to ten and so on. When specifying quantities, however, \u4e24 (li\u01ceng) is used. This is when you want to say "two of" something.<\/p>\n

A good rule is that if a measure word is used, use \u4e24. \u4e8c does not generally occur with measure words.<\/p>\n

Also remember that two o’clock uses \u4e24: \u4e24\u70b9. It’s two points on the clock, which is a quantity, so \u4e24 is used.<\/p>\n

Examples<\/strong>
Here are some common examples of \u4e8c in action:<\/p>\n

Sì ji\u01cen èr dé èr
\u56db\u51cf\u4e8c\u5f97\u4e8c.<\/div>\n
Four minus two equals two.<\/div>\n



<\/em>portant; float: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);”>Here are some common examples of \u4e24 in action: <\/span> <\/p>

Dàf\u0113ng yìzhí gu\u0101le li\u01cengti\u0101n-li\u01cengy.
\u5927\u98ce\u4e00\u76f4\u522e\u4e86\u4e24\u5929\u4e24\u591c\u3002<\/div>\n
The gale blew for two days and two nights. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n