Meaning of 二
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- two
- 2
- (Beijing dialect) stupid
How to use 二
二 is used for counting, numbers, dates and ordinals, as in 第二 (dì-èr, second) and 二月 (èryuè, February). It also appears in modern words like 二维码 (èrwéimǎ, QR code) and 二手 (èrshǒu, second-hand). Example: 我有二十块钱。(Wǒ yǒu èrshí kuài qián.) I have twenty yuan.
二 (èr) is simply two horizontal lines, one stroke for each unit. Notice the bottom line is longer than the top, like a small shelf sitting on a wider base.
Common mistake: Learners often say 二 before a measure word, but for quantities you usually need 两 (liǎng): say 两个人 (liǎng gè rén), not 二个人. Also do not confuse 二 with 三 (sān, three) or with 工 (gōng), which has a vertical stroke connecting the lines.
二 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
二 èr · two · 2 strokes
- 1
- 2
Related words
Words that share a character with 二.
| 第二 | dì-èr | second; number two |
| 二手 | èrshǒu | indirectly acquired; second-hand (information, equipment etc) |
| 二维码 | èrwéimǎ | 2D barcode; matrix code; (esp.) QR code |
| 独一无二 | dúyī-wú'èr | (idiom) unique; unmatched; unrivalled |
| 二氧化碳 | èryǎnghuàtàn | carbon dioxide CO2 |
| 一干二净 | yīgān-èrjìng | thoroughly (idiom); completely |
| 二手车 | èrshǒuchē | second-hand car |
| 接二连三 | jiē'èr-liánsān | (idiom) one after another; in quick succession |
| 第二次 | dì'èrcì | the second time; the second occurrence |
| 第二天 | dì'èrtiān | next day; the morrow |
| 老二 | lǎo'èr | second-eldest child in a family; (euphemism) penis |
| 二十 | èrshí | twenty; 20 |
Questions about 二
What does 二 mean?
二 (èr) means "two; 2" and is used as a numeral.
How do you write 二?
二 is made of 1 character: 二 (2 strokes). That is 2 strokes in total.
Is 二 an HSK word?
Yes. 二 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
When do I use 二 and when do I use 两?
Use 二 when counting, reading numbers, in ordinals and in digits within larger numbers, like 十二 (shí'èr, twelve) or 第二 (dì-èr). Use 两 before measure words for amounts, like 两本书 (liǎng běn shū, two books). For 200, both 二百 and 两百 are common.
Why would someone call a person 二?
In Beijing dialect and casual northern speech, 二 can mean silly or foolish, as in 你真二 (nǐ zhēn èr, you are so silly). It is informal and can be teasing or rude depending on tone, so use it only with friends.