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两三 (liǎng sān) — (approximate number) a couple of, two or three, a few

Definition

Used before a measure word or noun to mean 'two or three' — a small, vague number. Functions as a single quantifier, not a literal sum.

numeral
(approximate number) a couple oftwo or threea few

Examples

  • 两三。
    Tā qù le liǎng sān tiān jiù huí lái le.
    He went for a couple of days and then came back.
  • 两三。
    Shū jià shàng hái yǒu liǎng sān běn shū méi kàn wán.
    There are still a couple of books on the bookshelf that I haven't finished.
  • 两三。
    Jiào shì lǐ zhǐ yǒu liǎng sān gè rén zài shàng zì xí.
    There are only a few people in the classroom studying on their own.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

两liǎngtwo
三sānthree

两 and 三 are adjacent numbers used together to mean a small approximate amount.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

Open 三 →
Appears in
Numbers & Counting

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