# 兩

| 兩 | U+5169, &#20841; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5169 |
| ← 全 [U+5168] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 兪 → [U+516A] |
| 兩 | U+F978, &#63864; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-F978 |
| ← 亮 [U+F977] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs | 凉 → [U+F979] |

## Translingual

| Traditional | 兩 |
| Shinjitai | 両 |
| Simplified | 两 |

### Han character

兩 (Kangxi radical 11, 入+6, 8 strokes, cangjie input 一中月人 (MLBO), four-corner 1022$_7$, composition ⿻帀𠓜)

#### Derived characters

* 倆, 啢, 掚, 緉, 脼, 蜽, 裲, 輛, 魎, 㔝, 䓣, 䠃, 䩫, 𣍷, 𭝏, 𣓈, 𣼣, 𥇑, 𨨄, 𩗾, 𦑅, 𠬙, 𢎏, 𰂑, 𥮩, 𧶪, 𩀝, 𩭫, 𩳮

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 126, character 13
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 1436
* Dae Jaweon: page 272, character 11
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 24, character 2
* Unihan data for U+5169
* Unihan data for U+F978

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

* Historical forms of the character 兩
* Bronze inscriptionsb11978b11979b11980b11981b11982b11983b11984b11985b11986b11987b11988b11989b11990b11991b11992Small seal scripts05489Transcribed ancient scriptsL35075L35076
* References:
* Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including:
* Shuowen Jiezi (small seal),
* Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions),
* Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and
* Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).
| | Old Chinese |
| 倆 | *raŋʔ |
| 兩 | *raŋʔ, *raŋs |
| 脼 | *raŋʔ |
| 緉 | *raŋʔ, *raŋs |
| 蜽 | *raŋʔ |
| 魎 | *raŋʔ |
| 輛 | *raŋs |
According to Shuowen Jiezi an ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意) : 一 + 㒳.
Baxter (1992) observes that, in historical forms, the character is two 丙 (OC *praŋʔ) joined together; this would make 丙 the phonetic component in a sort of phono-ideogrammic compound (see also Baxter & Sagart (2014)).
The character could be linked to the original form of 更, which represents two chariots and a whip.

### Etymology

Unknown. Schuessler (2007) proposes two possible etymologies:
* Borrowing from Kra-Dai; compare Proto-Tai *rawᴬ (“we”) > Thai เรา (rao, “we”), Zhuang raeuz (“we (inclusive)”); Proto-Kam-Sui *hra¹ (“two”) > Southern Kam yac (“two”), Sui xgaz (“two”).
* Cognate with Tibetan སྲང (srang, “balance; scale; weight; unit of weight”).
Derivative: 輛 (OC *raŋs, “chariot”) (literally “that which is paired”, i.e. “a set of wheels”).

### Pronunciation 1

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): liǎng (liang$^3$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄌㄧㄤˇ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): niang$^3$
    (Nanjing, Nanjing Pinyin): liǎn
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): лён (li͡on, III)
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): loeng$^5$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): liang$^2$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): lióng
    (Hailu, HRS): liong$^ˊ$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): liong$^3$
* Northern Min (KCR): liòng$^{→niòng}$
* Eastern Min (BUC): lâng / liōng
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): nn̄g / nňg / nō͘ / nǒ͘ / lióng / liáng
    (Teochew, Peng'im): no$^6$ / liang$^2$
    (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): no$^6$ / liang$^2$
* Wu (Northern, Wugniu): $^6$lian / $^4$lian / $^3$lian
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): lian$^3$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: liǎng
*** Zhuyin: ㄌㄧㄤˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: liǎng
*** Wade–Giles: liang$^3$
*** Yale: lyǎng
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: leang
*** Palladius: лян (ljan)
*** Sinological IPA : /li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: niang$^3$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: liang
*** Sinological IPA : /niaŋ⁵³/
** (Nanjing)
*** Nanjing Pinyin: liǎn
*** Nanjing Pinyin (numbered): lian$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /liã¹¹/
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: лён (li͡on, III)
*** Sinological IPA : /liɑŋ⁴⁴/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: loeng$^5$
*** Yale: léuhng
*** Cantonese Pinyin: loeng$^5$
*** Guangdong Romanization: lêng$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /lœːŋ¹³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: liang$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /liaŋ⁵⁵/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: lióng
*** Hakka Romanization System: liong$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: liong$^3$
*** Sinological IPA: /li̯oŋ³¹/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: liong$^ˊ$
*** Sinological IPA: /lioŋ²⁴/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: liong$^3$
*** Sinological IPA: /liɔŋ³¹/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: liòng$^{→niòng}$
*** Sinological IPA : /niɔŋ⁴²/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: lâng / liōng
*** Sinological IPA : /l̃ɑŋ²⁴²/, /l̃uoŋ³³/
* lâng - vernacular;
* liōng - literary.
* Middle Chinese: ljangX
Rime :
| Character | 兩 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 來 (37) |
| Final (韻) | 陽 (105) |
| Tone (調) | Rising (X) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 良㢡切 |
| Baxter | ljangX |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /lɨɐŋ$^X$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /liɐŋ$^X$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /liɑŋ$^X$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /lɨaŋ$^X$/ |
| Li Rong | /liaŋ$^X$/ |
| Wang Li | /lĭaŋ$^X$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /li̯aŋ$^X$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | liǎng |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | loeng$^5$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*p.raŋʔ/
    (Zhengzhang): /*raŋʔ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 兩 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | liǎng |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ ljang$^X$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*p.raŋʔ/ |
| English | a pair |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 兩 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| No. | 8054 |
| Phonetic component | 兩 |
| Rime group | 陽 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | |
| Old Chinese | /*raŋʔ/ |

#### Definitions

兩
* two
    兩隻熱氣球／两只热气球 ― liǎng zhī rèqìqiú ― two hot air balloons
       ni$^1$ loeng$^5$ faai$^3$ paa$^1$ dou$^1$ taai$^3$ saang$^1$. [Jyutping]
       These two steaks are both too rare.
    一兩三／一两三 [Shanghainese] ― $^7$iq $^6$lian $^1$se [Wugniu] ― One, two, three
* two (used in radio communications in aviation and by the military)
* some; few
       Nǐmen zhè liǎng tiān zhēn gòu xīnkǔ de. [Pinyin]
       You've really been working hard the past few days.
* different; distinct
    兩樣／两样 ― liǎngyàng ― difference
       Wǒmen shuō de shì liǎng huí shì. [Pinyin]
       We are talking about different things.
* a surname

##### Usage notes

* In many lects, including Standard Mandarin, 兩／两 (liǎng) is used when counting things with a measure word, 二 (èr) is used in numbers.
** Examples with 兩／两 (liǎng)
    兩個人／两个人 ― liǎng ge rén ― two people
    兩年／两年 ― liǎng nián ― two years
    兩百／两百 ― liǎng bǎi ― two hundred
    兩千／两千 ― liǎng qiān ― two thousand
** Examples with 二 (èr)
    二十 ― èrshí ― twenty (literally, “two tens”)
    二百 ― èr bǎi ― two hundred
    第二 ― dì'èr ― second
    But not *二個人
* Rules may vary from variety to variety.
    Use caseMandarinCantoneseShanghainese 兩個人+++ 兩百+-+ 三十兩--+

##### Synonyms

* 二 (èr, “two”)

#### Compounds

* 一刀兩斷 / 一刀两断 (yīdāoliǎngduàn)
* 一刀兩段 / 一刀两段
* 一口兩匙 / 一口两匙
* 一國兩制 / 一国两制 (yī guó liǎng zhì)
* 一床兩好 / 一床两好
* 一搭兩用 / 一搭两用
* 一石兩鳥 / 一石两鸟
* 一簧兩舌 / 一簧两舌
* 一絲兩氣 / 一丝两气
* 一絲兩縷 / 一丝两缕
* 一舉兩便 / 一举两便
* 一舉兩得 / 一举两得 (yījǔliǎngdé)
* 一舉兩用 / 一举两用
* 一街兩巷 / 一街两巷
* 一言兩語 / 一言两语
* 一身兩役 / 一身两役 (yīshēnliǎngyì)
* 一長兩短 / 一长两短
* 一雙兩好 / 一双两好
* 一魚兩吃 / 一鱼两吃
* 三三兩兩 / 三三两两 (sānsānliǎngliǎng)
* 三三兩兩 / 三三两两 (sānsānliǎngliǎng)
* 三兩 / 三两 (sānliǎng)
* 三兩步 / 三两步
* 三冬兩夏 / 三冬两夏
* 三口兩口 / 三口两口
* 三回兩轉 / 三回两转
* 三天兩頭 / 三天两头 (sāntiānliǎngtóu)
* 三天兩頭 / 三天两头 (sāntiānliǎngtóu)
* 三好兩怯 / 三好两怯
* 三好兩歉 / 三好两歉
* 三好兩歹 / 三好两歹
* 三差兩錯 / 三差两错
* 三步兩步 / 三步两步
* 三湯兩割 / 三汤两割
* 三瓦兩舍 / 三瓦两舍
* 三男兩女 / 三男两女
* 三番兩次 / 三番两次 (sānfānliǎngcì)
* 三窩兩塊 / 三窝两块
* 三腳兩步 / 三脚两步
* 三般兩樣 / 三般两样
* 三言兩句 / 三言两句
* 三言兩語 / 三言两语 (sānyánliǎngyǔ)
* 三長兩短 / 三长两短 (sānchángliǎngduǎn)
* 三頭兩日 / 三头两日 (sāntóuliǎngrì)
* 三頭兩緒 / 三头两绪
* 二心兩意 / 二心两意
* 人地兩疏 / 人地两疏
* 人財兩失 / 人财两失 (réncáiliǎngshī)
* 人財兩空 / 人财两空 (réncáiliǎngkōng)
* 依違兩可 / 依违两可
* 依阿兩可 / 依阿两可
* 兩下 / 两下 (liǎngxià)
* 兩三下 / 两三下
* 兩三天 / 两三天
* 兩下子 / 两下子 (liǎngxiàzi)
* 兩下裡 / 两下里
* 兩上領 / 两上领
* 兩不找 / 两不找 (liǎngbùzhǎo)
* 兩不相下 / 两不相下
* 兩不相欠 / 两不相欠 (liǎngbùxiāngqiàn)
* 兩世姻緣 / 两世姻缘
* 兩世為人 / 两世为人
* 兩丱 / 两丱
* 兩事家 / 两事家
* 兩京 / 两京 (liǎngjīng)
* 兩件套 / 两件套
* 兩伊戰爭 / 两伊战争 (Liǎngyī Zhànzhēng)
* 兩便 / 两便 (liǎngbiàn)
* 兩個聲 / 两个声 (liǎnggèshēng)
* 兩側 / 两侧
* 兩儀 / 两仪 (liǎngyí)
* 兩全 / 两全 (liǎngquán)
* 兩全其美 / 两全其美 (liǎngquánqíměi)
* 兩兩 / 两两 (liǎngliǎng)
* 兩兩三三 / 两两三三
* 兩兩相比 / 两两相比
* 兩公婆 / 两公婆
* 兩利 / 两利
* 兩勢 / 两势
* 兩勢下 / 两势下
* 兩半 / 两半 (liǎngbàn)
* 兩半兒 / 两半儿 (liǎngbànr)
* 兩口 / 两口 (liǎngkǒu)
* 兩口兒 / 两口儿 (liǎngkǒur)
* 兩口子 / 两口子 (liǎngkǒuzi)
* 兩可 / 两可 (liǎngkě)
* 兩句半 / 两句半
* 兩合公司 / 两合公司
* 兩回事 / 两回事 (liǎnghuíshì)
* 兩回事兒 / 两回事儿
* 兩坐 / 两坐
* 兩坪 / 两坪 (Liǎngpíng)
* 兩姓之好 / 两姓之好
* 兩姨親 / 两姨亲
* 兩娘女 / 两娘女
* 兩婦三妻 / 两妇三妻
* 兩宋 / 两宋 (Liǎng-Sòng)
* 兩小無猜 / 两小无猜 (liǎngxiǎowúcāi)
* 兩岸 / 两岸 (liǎng'àn)
* 兩峪 / 两峪 (Liǎngyù)
* 兩廂 / 两厢
* 兩廂情願 / 两厢情愿
* 兩廣 / 两广 (Liǎngguǎng)
* 兩張皮 / 两张皮
* 兩心 / 两心
* 兩性 / 两性 (liǎngxìng)
* 兩情相悅 / 两情相悦 (liǎngqíngxiāngyuè)
* 兩意 / 两意
* 兩截 / 两截
* 兩截子 / 两截子
* 兩扇皮 / 两扇皮
* 兩手 / 两手 (liǎngshǒu)
* 兩手兒 / 两手儿
* 兩手空空 / 两手空空 (liǎngshǒukōngkōng)
* 兩手過膝 / 两手过膝
* 兩把刷子 / 两把刷子
* 兩把頭 / 两把头
* 兩抵 / 两抵
* 兩接 / 两接
* 兩撇鬍 / 两撇胡
* 兩敗俱傷 / 两败俱伤 (liǎngbàijùshāng)
* 兩旁 / 两旁 (liǎngpáng)
* 兩日三朝 / 两日三朝
* 兩晉 / 两晋 (Liǎng-Jìn)
* 兩曜 / 两曜
* 兩棲 / 两栖 (liǎngqī)
* 兩棲作戰 / 两栖作战
* 兩棲動物 / 两栖动物 (liǎngqī dòngwù)
* 兩棲植物 / 两栖植物
* 兩棲演員 / 两栖演员
* 兩棲部隊 / 两栖部队
* 兩極 / 两极 (liǎngjí)
* 兩極化 / 两极化
* 兩極觀點 / 两极观点
* 兩榜 / 两榜
* 兩樣 / 两样 (liǎngyàng)
* 兩樣三般 / 两样三般
* 兩次三番 / 两次三番 (liǎngcìsānfān)
* 兩次運球 / 两次运球
* 兩歧 / 两歧
* 兩氏旁人 / 两氏旁人
* 兩江 / 两江 (Liǎngjiāng)
* 兩河 / 两河 (Liǎnghé)
* 兩河口 / 两河口 (Liǎnghékǒu)
* 兩河流域 / 两河流域 (Liǎnghé Liúyù)
* 兩浙 / 两浙
* 兩淮 / 两淮
* 兩湖 / 两湖 (Liǎnghú)
* 兩漢 / 两汉 (Liǎng-Hàn)
* 兩無猜疑 / 两无猜疑
* 兩爺子 / 两爷子
* 兩片罐 / 两片罐
* 兩犀 / 两犀
* 兩班倒 / 两班倒
* 兩用 / 两用 (liǎngyòng)
* 兩當一 / 两当一
* 兩白日 / 两白日
* 兩目昏花 / 两目昏花
* 兩相好 / 两相好
* 兩相情願 / 两相情愿
* 兩眼 / 两眼
* 兩眼圓睜 / 两眼圆睁
* 兩眼發直 / 两眼发直
* 兩眼翻白 / 两眼翻白
* 兩着兒 / 两着儿
* 兩瞪眼 / 两瞪眼
* 兩瞽相扶 / 两瞽相扶
* 兩破三 / 两破三
* 兩碼事 / 两码事 (liǎngmǎshì)
* 兩稅法 / 两税法
* 兩立 / 两立 (liǎnglì)
* 兩端 / 两端
* 兩粵 / 两粤 (Liǎngyuè)
* 兩翼 / 两翼 (liǎngyì)
* 兩老 / 两老 (liǎnglǎo)
* 兩者 / 两者 (liǎngzhě)
* 兩股勁 / 两股劲
* 兩股勁兒 / 两股劲儿
* 兩腋生風 / 两腋生风
* 兩腳寫字 / 两脚写字
* 兩腳書櫥 / 两脚书橱
* 兩腳直跳 / 两脚直跳
* 兩腳規 / 两脚规
* 兩腳貨 / 两脚货
* 兩腿發軟 / 两腿发软
* 兩舌 / 两舌
* 兩葉掩目 / 两叶掩目
* 兩虎共鬥 / 两虎共斗
* 兩虎相爭 / 两虎相争
* 兩虎相鬥 / 两虎相斗
* 兩處為難 / 两处为难
* 兩袒 / 两袒
* 兩袖清風 / 两袖清风 (liǎngxiùqīngfēng)
* 兩言 / 两言
* 兩訖 / 两讫
* 兩說着 / 两说着
* 兩豆塞耳 / 两豆塞耳
* 兩賴子 / 两赖子
* 兩越 / 两越
* 兩路人 / 两路人
* 兩造 / 两造
* 兩道三科 / 两道三科
* 兩邊 / 两边 (liǎngbiān)
* 兩邊倒 / 两边倒
* 兩邊廂 / 两边厢
* 兩部鼓吹 / 两部鼓吹
* 兩都 / 两都
* 兩都賦 / 两都赋
* 兩重人格 / 两重人格
* 兩重親 / 两重亲
* 兩院制 / 两院制 (liǎngyuànzhì)
* 兩難 / 两难 (liǎngnán)
* 兩難論證 / 两难论证
* 兩面 / 两面 (liǎngmiàn)
* 兩頰 / 两颊 (liǎngjiá)
* 兩頭 / 两头 (liǎngtóu)
* 兩頭三緒 / 两头三绪
* 兩頭三面 / 两头三面
* 兩頭不著 / 两头不著
* 兩頭做大 / 两头做大
* 兩頭兒 / 两头儿
* 兩頭大 / 两头大
* 兩頭春 / 两头春
* 兩頭白面 / 两头白面
* 兩頭白麵 / 两头白面
* 兩頭蛇 / 两头蛇 (liǎngtóushé)
* 兩鬢飛霜 / 两鬓飞霜
* 兩點水 / 两点水 (liǎngdiǎnshuǐ)
* 兩點水兒 / 两点水儿
* 兩黨制 / 两党制 (liǎngdǎngzhì)
* 兩鼠鬥穴 / 两鼠斗穴
* 公私兩便 / 公私两便
* 公私兩全 / 公私两全
* 公私兩濟 / 公私两济
* 公私兩盡 / 公私两尽
* 判若兩人 / 判若两人 (pànruòliǎngrén)
* 勢不兩存 / 势不两存
* 勢不兩立 / 势不两立 (shìbùliǎnglì)
* 參兩 / 参两
* 命運兩濟 / 命运两济
* 執兩用中 / 执两用中
* 夫妻兩口 / 夫妻两口
* 小兩口兒 / 小两口儿
* 左右兩難 / 左右两难
* 德容兩全 / 德容两全
* 心口兩樣 / 心口两样
* 心懸兩地 / 心悬两地
* 忠孝兩全 / 忠孝两全 (zhōngxiàoliǎngquán)
* 持兩端 / 持两端
* 摸棱兩可 / 摸棱两可 (mōléngliǎngkě)
* 摸稜兩可 / 摸棱两可 (mōléngliǎngkě)
* 明兩 / 明两
* 有兩下子 / 有两下子 (yǒu liǎngxiàzi)
* 有兩日 / 有两日
* 模棱兩可 / 模棱两可 (móléngliǎngkě)
* 模稜兩可 / 模棱两可 (móléngliǎngkě)
* 每兩 / 每两 (měiliǎng)
* 沒有兩樣 / 没有两样 (méiyǒu liǎngyàng)
* 海峽兩岸 / 海峡两岸
* 清風兩袖 / 清风两袖
* 無兩 / 无两 (wúliǎng)
* 翻兩番 / 翻两番
* 臺兩 / 台两
* 色藝兩絕 / 色艺两绝
* 話分兩頭 / 话分两头
* 誓不兩立 / 誓不两立 (shìbùliǎnglì)
* 這兩天 / 这两天
* 進退兩難 / 进退两难 (jìntuìliǎngnán)
* 過兩天 / 过两天
* 銀貨兩訖 / 银货两讫
* 陰陽兩隔 / 阴阳两隔
* 難以兩全 / 难以两全
* 音問兩絕 / 音问两绝
* 首尾兩端 / 首尾两端 (shǒuwěiliǎngduān)
* 首施兩端 / 首施两端 (shǒushīliǎngduān)
* 首鼠兩端 / 首鼠两端 (shǒushǔliǎngduān)
* 騎兩頭馬 / 骑两头马
* 麥秀兩歧 / 麦秀两歧
* 麥穗兩歧 / 麦穗两歧
* 黑白兩道 / 黑白两道

### Pronunciation 2

* 兩 (Written Standard Chinese)
* 銀兩 (Written Standard Chinese)
* 両 (Cantonese)
* 銀兩 (Cantonese)
* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): liǎng (liang$^3$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄌㄧㄤˇ
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): loeng$^{5-2}$ / loeng$^5$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): liang$^2$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): liông
    (Hailu, HRS): liong$^ˋ$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): liong$^1$
* Northern Min (KCR): liǒng
* Eastern Min (BUC): liōng
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): niú / nió͘ / niáu
    (Teochew, Peng'im): niên$^2$ / nion$^2$
    (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): lio$^2$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^6$lian
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: liǎng
*** Zhuyin: ㄌㄧㄤˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: liǎng
*** Wade–Giles: liang$^3$
*** Yale: lyǎng
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: leang
*** Palladius: лян (ljan)
*** Sinological IPA : /li̯ɑŋ²¹⁴/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: loeng$^{5-2}$ / loeng$^5$
*** Yale: léung / léuhng
*** Cantonese Pinyin: loeng$^{5-2}$ / loeng$^5$
*** Guangdong Romanization: lêng$^{5-2}$ / lêng$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /lœːŋ¹³⁻³⁵/, /lœːŋ¹³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: liang$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /liaŋ⁵⁵/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: liông
*** Hakka Romanization System: liong$^ˊ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: liong$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /li̯oŋ²⁴/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: liong$^ˋ$
*** Sinological IPA: /lioŋ⁵³/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: liong$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /liɔŋ⁴⁴/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: liǒng
*** Sinological IPA : /liɔŋ²¹/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: liōng
*** Sinological IPA : /l̃uoŋ³³/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Kaohsiung, Taipei, Lukang, Sanxia, Yilan, Kinmen, Magong, Hsinchu, Taichung)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: niú
*** Tâi-lô: niú
*** Phofsit Daibuun: niuo
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /niũ⁵⁵⁴/
*** IPA (Xiamen, Taipei, Yilan, Kinmen): /niũ⁵³/
*** IPA (Lukang): /niũ⁵⁵/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /niũ⁴¹/
** (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Changtai, Tainan)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: nió͘
*** Tâi-lô: nióo
*** IPA (Zhangzhou, Changtai, Tainan): /niɔ̃⁵³/
** (Hokkien: Penang)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: niáu
*** Tâi-lô: niáu
*** Phofsit Daibuun: niao
*** IPA (Penang): /niau⁴⁴⁵/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: niên$^2$ / nion$^2$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: niéⁿ / nióⁿ
*** Sinological IPA : /nĩẽ⁵²/, /nĩõ⁵²/
* niên2 - Chaozhou;
* nion2 - Shantou.
* Middle Chinese: ljangX
Rime :
| Character | 兩 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 來 (37) |
| Final (韻) | 陽 (105) |
| Tone (調) | Rising (X) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 良㢡切 |
| Baxter | ljangX |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /lɨɐŋ$^X$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /liɐŋ$^X$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /liɑŋ$^X$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /lɨaŋ$^X$/ |
| Li Rong | /liaŋ$^X$/ |
| Wang Li | /lĭaŋ$^X$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /li̯aŋ$^X$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | liǎng |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | loeng$^5$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*p.raŋʔ/
    (Zhengzhang): /*raŋʔ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 兩 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | liǎng |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ ljang$^X$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*p.raŋʔ/ |
| English | a pair |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 兩 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| No. | 8054 |
| Phonetic component | 兩 |
| Rime group | 陽 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | |
| Old Chinese | /*raŋʔ/ |

#### Definitions

兩
* tael (a traditional unit of weight)
** (Mainland China) Short for 市兩／市两 (shìliǎng, “market tael, equal to 1/10 of a catty or 50 grams”).
** (Hong Kong) equal to 1/16 of a catty or 37.7994 grams
** (Taiwan) Short for 臺兩／台两 (“Taiwanese tael, equal to 1/16 of a catty or 37.5 grams”).
** (historical) metal currency unit used in China and Japan
* Short for 公兩／公两 (gōngliǎng, “hectogram”).

##### Usage notes

* In older literature, using 両 for "tael" and 兩／两 for "two" can be seen.
* The variant form 𭃂 is commonly found in shop signs displaying prices.

#### Compounds

* 不識斤兩 / 不识斤两
* 偷斤減兩 / 偷斤减两
* 八兩半斤 / 八两半斤
* 公兩 / 公两 (gōngliǎng)
* 六兩河 / 六两河 (Liùliǎnghé)
* 分斤掰兩 / 分斤掰两
* 分斤撥兩 / 分斤拨两
* 分斤較兩 / 分斤较两
* 分星擘兩 / 分星擘两
* 分金掰兩 / 分金掰两
* 半斤八兩 / 半斤八两 (bànjīnbāliǎng)
* 四兩棉花 / 四两棉花
* 幾斤幾兩 / 几斤几两 (jǐjīnjǐliǎng)
* 彈斤估兩 / 弹斤估两
* 彈觔估兩 / 弹斤估两
* 掂斤估兩 / 掂斤估两
* 掂斤抹兩 / 掂斤抹两
* 掂斤播兩 / 掂斤播两
* 搬斤播兩 / 搬斤播两
* 擘兩分星 / 擘两分星
* 斤兩 / 斤两 (jīnliǎng)
* 有斤兩 / 有斤两
* 短斤缺兩 / 短斤缺两
* 秤斤注兩 / 秤斤注两
* 缺斤少兩 / 缺斤少两 (quējīnshǎoliǎng)
* 缺斤短兩 / 缺斤短两 (quējīnduǎnliǎng)
* 臺兩 / 台两
* 英兩 / 英两 (yīngliǎng)
* 觔兩 / 斤两
* 論斤估兩 / 论斤估两
* 銀兩 / 银两 (yínliǎng)
* 銖兩 / 铢两
* 銖兩悉稱 / 铢两悉称

### Pronunciation 3

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): liàng (liang$^4$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄌㄧㄤˋ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): loeng$^6$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: liàng
*** Zhuyin: ㄌㄧㄤˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: liàng
*** Wade–Giles: liang$^4$
*** Yale: lyàng
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: lianq
*** Palladius: лян (ljan)
*** Sinological IPA : /li̯ɑŋ⁵¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: loeng$^6$
*** Yale: leuhng
*** Cantonese Pinyin: loeng$^6$
*** Guangdong Romanization: lêng$^6$
*** Sinological IPA : /lœːŋ²²/
* Middle Chinese: ljangH
Rime :
| Character | 兩 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 來 (37) |
| Final (韻) | 陽 (105) |
| Tone (調) | Departing (H) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 力讓切 |
| Baxter | ljangH |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /lɨɐŋ$^H$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /liɐŋ$^H$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /liɑŋ$^H$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /lɨaŋ$^H$/ |
| Li Rong | /liaŋ$^H$/ |
| Wang Li | /lĭaŋ$^H$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /li̯aŋ$^H$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | liàng |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | loeng$^6$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Zhengzhang): /*raŋs/
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 兩 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| No. | 8061 |
| Phonetic component | 兩 |
| Rime group | 陽 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 亮 |
| Old Chinese | /*raŋs/ |
| Notes | 後作輛 |

#### Definitions

兩
* Original form of 輛／辆 (liàng).
    From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
    Zhīzǐ yúguī, bǎi liàng yù zhī. [Pinyin]
    This young lady is going to her future home; A hundred carriages are meeting her.

### Pronunciation 4

* For pronunciation and definitions of 兩 – see 魎. (This character is a variant form of 魎).

#### Compounds

* 罔兩 / 罔两 (wǎngliǎng)

### Descendants

* → Japanese: 両(りょう) (ryō); 両(りゃん) (ryan)
* → Korean: 량(兩) (ryang)
* → Vietnamese: lưỡng (兩), lượng (兩)
Others:
* ⇒ Wutunhua: liangge (“two”), -liangge (“with”)
* → Vietnamese: lạng (兩, “tael; hectogram”)

### Further reading

* “兩”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

#### Southern Min

* “Entry #3599”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

## Japanese

| Shinjitai | 両 |
| Kyūjitai | 兩 |

### Kanji

(Hyōgai kanji, kyūjitai kanji, shinjitai form 両)
* both

#### Readings

* Go-on: りょう (ryō)
* Kan-on: りょう (ryō)
* Tō-on: りゃん (ryan)
* Kun: ころ (koro, 兩)、ふたつ (futatsu, 兩つ)、もろ (moro, 兩)

#### Alternative forms

* 两 (also kyūjitai)

## Korean
### Etymology 1
#### Hanja

兩 (eumhun 두 량 (du ryang), word-initial (South Korea) 두 양 (du yang))
* hanja form of 량 (“both”)

#### Compounds

* 양반 (兩班, yangban, “(historical) yangban class in Korea”)
* 양성 (兩性, yangseong, “both sexes”)
* 양서류 (兩棲類, yangseoryu, “amphibian”)

### Etymology 2
#### Hanja

兩 (eumhun 냥 냥 (nyang nyang), word-initial (South Korea) 냥 양 (nyang yang))
* hanja form of 냥 (“(archaic) (units of measure) a liang or tael, a unit of weight equivalent to about 40 g”)
* hanja form of 냥 (“(archaic) (units of coinage) a nyang”)

## Vietnamese
### Han character

兩: Hán Nôm readings: lưỡng, lượng, lạng

### Noun

兩
* Nôm form of lạng.
** tael (unit of weight equal to 37.8 grams)
** hectogram (100 grams)
* chữ Hán form of lượng (“(chiefly of gold and silver) Alternative form of lạng (tael)”).

### Adjective

兩
* chữ Hán form of lưỡng (“two, both”).

#### References

* 1 2 3 Génibrel (1898).
* 1 2 3 Bonet (1899).
* 1 2 Thiều Chửu (1942).
* 1 2 Nguyễn (1974).
* 1 2 3 Trần (1999).
* 1 2 3 Nguyễn et al. (2009).
* ↑ Hồ (1976).