俩 meaning and stroke order
Two (colloquial equivalent of 兩個|两个); both; some
How to write 俩, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 9
Meaning of 俩
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- two (colloquial equivalent of 兩個|两个)
- both
- some
- used in 伎倆|伎俩[ji4 liang3]
How 俩 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A couple 寿; 寿 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 亻 (man), shared by 277 characters on this site.
How to remember 俩
俩 is a person 亻 next to 两 (liǎng, two), so picture two people standing side by side as a pair. The sound is close to 两 too, just liǎ instead of liǎng.
In spoken Chinese, 俩 (liǎ) is a casual way to say 两个 (liǎng gè), meaning two people or two things. It often follows a pronoun, as in 我们俩 or 咱俩. Example: 他们俩是好朋友。(Tāmen liǎ shì hǎo péngyou.) The two of them are good friends.
Common mistake: Learners often say 俩个 or 两俩, but 俩 already contains the measure word 个, so never add 个 after it. Also note it is liǎ with no final ng, except in the word 伎俩 (jìliǎng).
Common words with 俩
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 咱俩 | zánliǎ | the two of us | |
| 伎俩 | jìliǎng | trick; scheme; ploy; skill |
俩 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 俩
How many strokes are in 俩?
俩 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 俩 mean?
俩 (liǎ) means two (colloquial equivalent of 兩個|两个); both; some. A common word with it is 咱俩 (zánliǎ), meaning "the two of us".
How do you pronounce 俩?
俩 is pronounced liǎ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 俩?
The radical of 俩 is 亻, which carries the idea of "man". Dictionaries list 俩 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 俩?
The traditional form of 俩 is 倆. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 俩 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 俩 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 俩 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
Can I use 俩 in formal writing?
It is mostly colloquial and common in speech, chat, and informal writing. In formal texts, 两个 or 二人 is usually preferred.
Does 俩 always mean exactly two?
Usually yes, but it can also mean a few or a small amount, as in 就这么俩钱 (jiù zhème liǎ qián), just this little bit of money. Context tells you which meaning is intended.