Chinese character · HSK 1
两 (liǎng) — “two / pair”
The character's structure resembles a frame or roof sheltering exactly two identical elements, perfectly representing the concept of a 'pair'.
How to remember 两
Two identical people sitting side-by-side under one roof make a pair.
Inside the character
- 一 (one) — meaning component. A single horizontal stroke — the simplest mark, often acting as a divider or ground line.
- 冂 (open frame) — meaning component. An open frame shape — often acts as a container or wraps around inner pieces.
- 人 (person) — meaning component. The standalone person form — often marks people, humanity, or human action.
Where 两 comes from
Originally a pictograph of a wooden yoke used to harness a pair of draft animals (like horses or oxen) together, which naturally led to the meaning 'two' or 'a pair'.
Characters related to 两
Learning a character alongside its neighbours — in meaning, in sound, or in shape — is far more durable than learning it in isolation.
Close in meaning
- 二 (èr, two) — both mean two
- 双 (shuāng, pair / double) — both mean a pair or two
- 对 (duì, correct / right) — both mean a pair or couple
Words that use 两
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 两人 | liǎng rén | two people | HSK 1 |
| 两只 | liǎng zhī | two (used with measure word for animals) | HSK 1 |
| 两边 | liǎng bian | either side / both sides | HSK 4 |
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More characters: 串 (chuàn, to string together / skewer) · 从 (cóng, from / to follow) · 付 (fù, to pay / to hand over) — or browse the full character library.