How to Write 双 (shuāng) — Meaning “Double; pair; two.”

Picture two friends (the two '又' components) standing together holding hands — they are a pair. Since 又 looks like a hand, two hands make a 'double' or 'pair'.

Write the left '又' first, then the right '又'. Pay attention to proportions: the left side is slightly narrower and the right side slightly wider. A common mistake is making both halves the same size; the right side should be a bit larger to balance the character.

双 (double) has two '又' components side by side, while 又 alone means 'again' or 'also' and is just one hand. 叉 (chā, 'fork') replaces the second '又' with a dot and a cross shape. In usage, 双 is about pairs, 又 is an adverb, and 叉 is a noun or verb for forking.

双 is very common for describing pairs, like 双手 (both hands) and 一双鞋子 (a pair of shoes). In Chinese culture, pairs are considered lucky, so 双 often appears in wedding decorations and New Year greetings to symbolize harmony and good fortune.

Common words containing 双 include: 双手 (shuāng shǒu) — Both hands.; 一双 (yī shuāng) — a pair; 双人 (shuāng rén) — Double; for two people..