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.
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.