SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/zh-er-vs-liang

You want 'two bottles of water'. Which word for two goes in front of the measure word?

Liǎng (两): liǎng píng shuǐ.

Start playing free

  1. èr (二)
  2. shuāng (双)
  3. liǎng (两) ✔

Why: Use èr when counting or in numbers like 12 and 20. Use liǎng for 'two of something', before a measure word: liǎng gè rén, two people.

Huh, didn't know that: Peace Corps shows liǎng in prices too: liǎng kuài liù means 2.60 yuan.

The dad joke
Why did the two 4s skip lunch? They already 8!
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: liǎng (两). Use èr when counting or in numbers like 12 and 20. Use liǎng for 'two of something', before a measure word: liǎng gè rén, two people.

  1. Peace Corps China, Chinese Basic Lessons for Invitees (Mandarin) files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/audio/languagelessons/thepeoplesrepublicofchina/CN_Mandarin_Language_Lessons.pdf
    When counting, two is ]er 二, when used with
    Checked 2026-10-12.
  2. Peace Corps China, Chinese Basic Lessons for Invitees (Mandarin) files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/audio/languagelessons/thepeoplesrepublicofchina/CN_Mandarin_Language_Lessons.pdf
    two cups
    Checked 2026-10-12.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

LanguagesHow do you say the number 20 in Mandarin Chinese?LanguagesIn China, which one-hand sign means the number 6?LanguagesIn China, what does a hand with the thumb pointing up and the index finger pointing sideways (like an L) mean?

That's stuff everyone should know.