两
liǎng
two
both; some; a few; tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤[jin1] (old)
one roof (一) + enclosure (冂) + two people (从) = two, a pair
The original form showed two people (从) side by side inside a boundary (冂), under a single roof (一) — a pair sharing the same space. From 'a pair' came the broader senses of both, some, and the weight unit tael.
我有两只猫，它们都很可爱。
wǒ yǒu liǎng zhī māo , tā men dōu hěn kě ài 。
I have two cats; both of them are very cute.
请给我两斤苹果，不要太酸的。
qǐng gěi wǒ liǎng jīn píng guǒ , bù yào tài suān de 。
Please give me two jin of apples — not too sour ones.
Words with 两
两者
liǎng zhě
both of them; the two of them
两国
liǎng guó
both countries; the two countries
两岸
liǎng àn
bilateral
两手空空
liǎng shǒu kōng kōng
empty-handed (idiom); fig. not receiving anything
两院制
liǎng yuàn zhì
bicameralism
老两口
lǎo liǎng kǒu
old married couple
两相
liǎng xiāng
both sides
势不两立
shì bù liǎng lì
the two cannot exist together (idiom); irreconcilable differences
判若两人
pàn ruò liǎng rén
to be a different person
三三两两
sān sān liǎng liǎng
in twos and threes
进退两难
jìn tuì liǎng nán
no room to advance or to retreat (idiom); without any way out of a dilemma
两重天
liǎng chóng tiān
two entirely different worlds; two contrasting realities