How to Write 两 (liǎng) — Meaning “two; both”

Imagine a long horizontal line as a table, with two little people sitting on either side — this represents 'two' or 'both'. The two similar inner parts (each a left-falling stroke and a dot) remind you of those two people.

Write the top horizontal stroke first, then the vertical stroke, then the horizontal hook, and finally two sets of left-falling stroke and dot — making seven strokes in total. A common mistake is making the two inner parts uneven or too big; keep them small and symmetrical inside the outer frame.

两 has an open interior with two stroke pairs (a left-falling stroke and a dot on each side), while 且 has a closed box-like structure with two horizontal lines inside. 丕 is simpler: a horizontal line on top and a vertical line with a dot below; it doesn't have the double inner pairs that 两 has.

Use 两 before most measure words to indicate a quantity of two, like 两个朋友 (two friends), while 二 is for numbers, counting, or order (e.g., 第二 'second'). A cultural note: when telling time, 两点 means 'two o'clock', and 两 also appears in common phrases like 两边 (both sides), showing its flexibility.

Common words containing 两 include: 两个 (liǎng gè) — two (of something); 两点 (liǎng diǎn) — Two o'clock; 两年 (liǎng nián) — Two years.