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March 24, 2026
俩(倆)liǎ(lia3)
The character 俩 (liǎ) is a colloquial term meaning 'two' or 'a couple.' It is often used in conversational Mandarin to refer to two people or items, and it can convey a sense of familiarity or informal context. Unlike the more formal 两个 (liǎng ge), 俩 is typically used among friends or in casual settings.
Strokes9Radical亻Frequency#379DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, using informal language like 俩 reflects a casual and friendly approach to communication. It is common in everyday conversations, particularly among younger generations, illustrating the importance of social bonds.
Memory Tip
Imagine a pair of friends laughing together, representing the number two. The character 俩 combines the radical for a person (亻) and a form that suggests a pair, reminding you that it refers to two individuals. The pronunciation 'liǎ' can be remembered by thinking of 'laughing in pairs.'
Meanings of 俩
liǎ(lia3)
1two (colloquial equivalent of 兩個
2both
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 俩
俩Simplified
倆Traditional
9Strokes
亻Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#379Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 俩
Podcast: 俩
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AI Study Notes for 俩
Quick Contrast
两个 (liǎng ge) is more formal and can be used in a wider range of contexts, while 俩 (liǎ) is specifically colloquial and implies familiarity.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of friends laughing together, representing the number two. The character 俩 combines the radical for a person (亻) and a form that suggests a pair, reminding you that it refers to two individuals. The pronunciation 'liǎ' can be remembered by thinking of 'laughing in pairs.'
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 俩 with 两个 (liǎng ge); remember that 俩 is more informal. It's commonly used in conversational contexts and can pair with nouns to specify 'two of something.' Be mindful of the third tone in pronunciation to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 俩 connects well with other numerals and colloquial expressions. Students should focus on using it in sentences to express quantities informally, reinforcing their understanding of tone and context.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, using informal language like 俩 reflects a casual and friendly approach to communication. It is common in everyday conversations, particularly among younger generations, illustrating the importance of social bonds.
Common Mistakes
Learners might incorrectly use 俩 in formal writing or situations, thinking it is interchangeable with 两个. For example, saying '我有俩苹果' (Wǒ yǒu liǎ píngguǒ) in a formal letter would be wrong; instead, use '我有两个苹果' (Wǒ yǒu liǎng ge píngguǒ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 俩
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Grammar Patterns of 俩
俩 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
"We're all talking at the same time." — "Yeah. Sorry."
4
你们俩人合得来吗？
nǐ mén liǎng rén hé dé lái ma？
How well did you hit it off with one another?
5
他俩都是无家可归的人，露宿在城市最古老的桥下。
tā liǎng dū shì wú jiā kě guī de rén， ， lòu sù zài chéng shì zuì gǔ lǎo de qiáo。
They are both down-and-outs, sleeping under the city's oldest bridge.
6
那就是我俩看法不一的地方。
nà jiù shì wǒ liǎng kàn fǎ bù yī de dì fāng。
That is where we differ.
7
“好吧,那我就不打扰你们俩了.”格雷戈里说道.
“ “ hǎo, bā , nà wǒ jiù bù dǎ rǎo nǐ mén.” liǎng le .” gé léi gē.
"Well, I'll leave you both, then," said Gregory.
8
嗯，我觉得那很棒。你们俩呢？
ňg， ， wǒ jué dé nà hěn。 bàng 。 nǐ mén？
Well, I enjoyed that. How about you two?
9
那篇文章对他们俩都不公。
nà piān wén zhāng duì tā mén liǎng dū bù gōng。
The article does them both an injustice.
10
可以说，他俩都是绝对可靠的人。
kě yǐ shuō， ， tā liǎng dū shì jué duì kě kào de。
Both of them, I may say, are thoroughly reliable men.
Cultural Notes for 俩
💡Did you know?
'俩' is commonly used in everyday conversation in China when referring to two people or items, making it a very practical word to know. It reflects the colloquial nature of Chinese language.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, using informal language like 俩 reflects a casual and friendly approach to communication. It is common in everyday conversations, particularly among younger generations, illustrating the importance of social bonds.
Word Family of 俩
Words Containing This Character4
俩liǎboth倆
咱俩the two of us咱倆
伎俩trick伎倆
俩钱儿erhua variant of 倆錢兒|俩钱儿[liǎqiánr]倆錢兒
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 俩 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 俩
No, 俩 (liǎ) is considered informal and is typically used in casual speech. In more formal contexts or writing, you would use 两个 (liǎng ge) instead.
俩 (liǎ) is the colloquial way to say 'two' or 'both,' while 两个 (liǎng ge) is the formal version. You would use 俩 in everyday conversations, but in writing or formal speech, it's best to use 两个.
俩 (liǎ) is a colloquial term that means 'two' or 'both' in Chinese. It is often used in informal contexts to refer to a pair of people or things, and is equivalent to the more formal 两个 (liǎng ge).
俩 (liǎ) can be used to refer to two people or items in casual conversation. For example, you might say '我们俩去吧' (Wǒmen liǎ qù ba), meaning 'Let's go, the two of us.' It's a great way to emphasize the number when speaking informally.
No, 俩 is considered informal and is best reserved for casual conversations.
You can simply place it before a noun, for example, 俩人 (liǎ rén) means 'two people'.
While both mean 'two,' 俩 is more colloquial, whereas 两个 is more formal.
