Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== liǎ: 俩 - Two (people), a couple of ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** liǎ, lia, 俩, 俩人, 两个人, liǎng ge rén, two people in Chinese, how to say a couple of in Chinese, Chinese measure words, HSK 3 vocabulary, colloquial Chinese, informal Chinese * **Summary:** Learn how to use "俩" (liǎ), the essential and informal Chinese word for "two people" or "a couple of." This guide explains its meaning, cultural context, and practical usage with example sentences. Understand the key difference between 俩 (liǎ), 两个 (liǎng ge), and 两 (liǎng) to sound more natural and fluent in daily conversation. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** liǎ * **Part of Speech:** Numeral-Measure Word Compound * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 * **Concise Definition:** A colloquial term for "two" or "a couple of," used specifically for people. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **俩 (liǎ)** as a friendly shortcut. It's a contraction of the more standard **两个人 (liǎng ge rén)**, literally "two [measure word] people." By squishing `两 (liǎng)` and `个 (ge)` into a single, easy-to-say character, you get `俩`. It's used constantly in casual, spoken Chinese to refer to two people as a single unit, often implying a sense of closeness or familiarity. It’s the difference between saying "the two of them" and "those two." ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **俩 (liǎ)** is a phono-semantic compound character, which means one part gives the meaning and the other gives the sound. * **亻(rén):** The left side is the "person" radical. This is a dead giveaway that the character has something to do with people. * **两 (liǎng):** The right side means "two" and provides the pronunciation for `liǎ`. * When you put them together, you get a character that literally means "two people." It’s an elegant and efficient piece of character design that perfectly captures its meaning. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * The use of **俩 (liǎ)** is a great indicator of social distance and formality. Choosing `俩` over the more neutral `两个人 (liǎng ge rén)` or the very formal `两位 (liǎng wèi)` instantly makes the conversation more relaxed and personal. * In Western culture, the difference might be compared to saying "you two" or "you guys" versus "the two of you" or addressing people by their formal titles. Using `俩` with friends, family, or a significant other is natural and warm. For example, a young person would likely say “我爸妈俩...” (wǒ bà mā liǎ... - "My mom and dad...") when talking about their parents casually. * This linguistic shortcut reflects a cultural value on efficiency and intimacy in informal relationships. It treats the two people as a single, connected unit, which is why it's so common when referring to couples, close friends, or family members. It’s a small word that carries a big social signal. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **Daily Conversation:** This is where `俩` shines. It's used constantly among friends, colleagues, and family. You'll hear it on the street, in restaurants, and at home. * e.g., "你俩去哪儿？" (Nǐ liǎ qù nǎr? - Where are you two going?) * **Social Media & Texting:** `俩` is extremely common in texting and on platforms like WeChat (微信) because it's quick to type and conveys a casual, friendly tone. * **Formality:** Highly informal. You should avoid using `俩` in formal or written contexts like business reports, academic essays, or official speeches. In those situations, **两个人 (liǎng ge rén)** is the neutral standard, and **两位 (liǎng wèi)** is the polite and respectful choice, especially for elders or people in positions of authority. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我们**俩**是好朋友。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen **liǎ** shì hǎo péngyǒu. * English: The two of us are good friends. * Analysis: This is a classic example of using `我们俩` (wǒmen liǎ) to mean "we two" or "the two of us." It establishes a close, friendly bond. * **Example 2:** * 这件事就我们**俩**知道。 * Pinyin: Zhè jiàn shì jiù wǒmen **liǎ** zhīdào. * English: Only the two of us know about this matter. * Analysis: Here, `俩` emphasizes the exclusivity and shared secret between two people, creating a sense of a tight-knit unit. * **Example 3:** * 你看，他**俩**穿的是情侣装。 * Pinyin: Nǐ kàn, tā **liǎ** chuān de shì qínglǚ zhuāng. * English: Look, the two of them are wearing matching couple's outfits. * Analysis: `他俩` (tā liǎ) is the perfect way to refer to a couple you're observing. It's natural and colloquial. * **Example 4:** * 我觉得你**俩**很般配。 * Pinyin: Wǒ juédé nǐ **liǎ** hěn bānpèi. * English: I think you two are a great match. * Analysis: A common and friendly way to comment on a couple's suitability for each other. Using `你们两个人` would sound slightly more distant. * **Example 5:** * 咱们**俩**去喝一杯吧？ * Pinyin: Zánmen **liǎ** qù hē yī bēi ba? * English: How about the two of us go for a drink? * Analysis: `咱们` (zánmen) is an inclusive "we" (including the listener). Paired with `俩`, it creates a very friendly and inclusive invitation. * **Example 6:** * 这是我父母**俩**给我买的礼物。 * Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ fùmǔ **liǎ** gěi wǒ mǎi de lǐwù. * English: This is the gift the two of my parents bought for me. * Analysis: This shows how `俩` can follow a noun (like `父母`, parents) to mean "the two of them." It's more common in spoken language than `我的两个父母`. * **Example 7:** * 别管他们**俩**了，我们走吧。 * Pinyin: Bié guǎn tāmen **liǎ** le, wǒmen zǒu ba. * English: Don't worry about those two, let's go. * Analysis: `他们俩` (tāmen liǎ) refers to "those two" or "the two of them." The tone is casual, as if brushing them off. * **Example 8:** * 这房子就住着他们老夫妻**俩**。 * Pinyin: Zhè fángzi jiù zhùzhe tāmen lǎo fūqī **liǎ**. * English: Just the old couple lives in this house. * Analysis: `俩` can follow a specific group noun like `老夫妻` (lǎo fūqī - old couple) to emphasize that it's just the two of them. * **Example 9:** * 你们**俩**谁去开门？ * Pinyin: Nǐmen **liǎ** shéi qù kāimén? * English: Which one of you two is going to open the door? * Analysis: A very common question you'd hear in a household setting. It's direct and informal. * **Example 10:** * 我和我哥**俩**从小关系就特别好。 * Pinyin: Wǒ hé wǒ gē **liǎ** cóngxiǎo guānxì jiù tèbié hǎo. * English: My older brother and I have had a great relationship since we were little. * Analysis: Here, `俩` follows the unit "me and my brother" (`我和我哥`), binding them together as "we two." ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Mistake 1: Adding a measure word after 俩.** * This is the most common error. Remember, **俩 (liǎ) = 两 (liǎng) + 个 (ge)**. The measure word is already built-in! * **Incorrect:** 我们**俩个**人是学生。(Wǒmen **liǎ ge** rén shì xuéshēng.) * **Correct:** 我们**俩**是学生。(Wǒmen **liǎ** shì xuéshēng.) * **Correct:** 我们**两个**人是学生。(Wǒmen **liǎng ge** rén shì xuéshēng.) * **Mistake 2: Using 俩 for objects or animals.** * `俩` is used almost exclusively for people. For objects, you must use `两 (liǎng)` followed by the correct measure word. * **Incorrect:** 我想买**俩**苹果。(Wǒ xiǎng mǎi **liǎ** píngguǒ.) * **Correct:** 我想买**两个**苹果。(Wǒ xiǎng mǎi **liǎng ge** píngguǒ.) * **Mistake 3: Using 俩 directly before a noun.** * You cannot say "俩学生" (liǎ xuéshēng) to mean "two students." The structure is typically `(Pronoun/Noun) + 俩`. * **Incorrect:** 教室里有**俩**学生。(Jiàoshì lǐ yǒu **liǎ** xuéshēng.) * **Correct:** 教室里有**两个**学生。(Jiàoshì lǐ yǒu **liǎng ge** xuéshēng.) * **Correct:** **他俩**是学生。(Tā **liǎ** shì xuéshēng. - The two of them are students.) ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * `[[两个]] (liǎng ge)` - The direct, neutral, and most common way to say "two of (something/someone)." `俩` is the informal version of this when referring to people. * `[[两位]] (liǎng wèi)` - The formal and polite equivalent of `俩`. `位 (wèi)` is a polite measure word for people. Use this for customers, elders, or in formal situations. * `[[两]] (liǎng)` - The number "two" used before a measure word. It is never used alone to mean "two people." * `[[二]] (èr)` - The number "two" used for counting (一, 二, 三...), in phone numbers, and for ordinal numbers (e.g., 第二, second). * `[[一对]] (yī duì)` - "A pair" or "a couple." Often used to describe people or things that are a matched set, like `一对夫妻` (a married couple). * `[[双]] (shuāng)` - "A pair," but specifically for things that naturally come in pairs, like `一双鞋` (a pair of shoes) or `一双筷子` (a pair of chopsticks). * `[[哥们儿]] (gēmenr)` - Buddies, bros. You might hear `我们哥儿俩` (wǒmen gērliǎ), meaning "we two brothers/buddies." * `[[仨]] (sā)` - A very colloquial Northern Chinese term for "three people," functioning just like `俩`. It's a contraction of `三个 (sān ge)`. It's much less common than `俩` but good to recognize.