倆 meaning and stroke order
Two, a pair, a couple
How to write 倆, stroke by stroke
10 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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- 10
Meaning of 倆
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 倆 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A couple 兩; 兩 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 亻 (man), shared by 277 characters on this site.
How to remember 倆
倆 is a person 亻 next to 兩 (liǎng, two), so it pictures two people side by side. 兩 also hints at the sound, liǎ.
倆 is a casual spoken word that already means 兩個 (liǎng ge), so it replaces both the number and the measure word. It often follows pronouns or nouns for people. Example: 我們倆是同學。(Wǒmen liǎ shì tóngxué.) The two of us are classmates.
Common mistake: Learners often say 倆個 (liǎ ge), but 倆 already contains 個, so no measure word should follow it. Also do not confuse it with 兩 (liǎng), which needs a measure word, as in 兩個人 (liǎng ge rén).
Common words with 倆
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 咱倆 | zánliǎ | the two of us | |
| 伎倆 | jìliǎng | trick; scheme; ploy; skill |
Questions about 倆
How many strokes are in 倆?
倆 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 倆 mean?
倆 (liǎ) means two, a pair, a couple. A common word with it is 咱俩 (zánliǎ), meaning "the two of us".
How do you pronounce 倆?
倆 is pronounced liǎ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 倆?
The radical of 倆 is 亻, which carries the idea of "man". Dictionaries list 倆 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 倆?
倆 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 俩, used in mainland China and Singapore.
When is 倆 pronounced liǎng instead of liǎ?
Only in the word 伎倆 (jìliǎng), meaning a trick or scheme. Everywhere else it is read liǎ.
Can 倆 mean just 'a few' rather than exactly two?
Yes, in casual speech it can mean a small amount, like 'a couple of.' For example, 就這麼倆錢 (jiù zhème liǎ qián) means 'only this little bit of money.'