About
The character 两, originating from its traditional form 兩, derives from an early pictorial concept representing a pair, such as two cart shafts or weights, conveying the idea of "a couple" or "both". Structurally, the traditional 兩 consists of a horizontal stroke atop a frame enclosing two short strokes, whereas the simplified 两 retains a similar outline but with streamlined internal components. Initially denoting specifically paired items, its meaning expanded over time to serve as a numeral for "two" in contexts involving countable objects and measure words, while also acquiring the sense of a traditional unit of weight, the liang. This shift reflects its development from a concrete depiction to an abstract numerical and quantitative term in the language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我有两个苹果。
两人一起走。
他买了两本书。
两边都有树。
我用了两个小时完成作业。
他们两个都是我的好朋友。
这件事有两方面需要考虑。
两年前，我们第一次见面。