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两下子 (liǎng xià zi) — (quantifier) a couple of times; (noun, colloquial) skill, ability, trick (e.g. in 有两下子)

Definition

A colloquial 量词 that doubles as a noun meaning 'skill / knack' in 有两下子 ('he's got a few tricks'). Often glossed as 'a couple of times' when used as a quantifier for repeated action.

quantifier
a couple of times(noun, colloquial) skillabilitytrick (e.g. in 有两下子)

Examples

  • 两下子，。
    Tā zhēn yǒu liǎng xià zi, zhè me kuài jiù bǎ wèn tí jiě jué le.
    He's really got skill — he solved the problem so quickly.
  • 两下子。
    Wǒ zhī shì le liǎng xià zi jiù chéng gōng le.
    I only tried a couple of times and succeeded.
  • 两下子？
    Nǐ néng gěi dà jiā biǎo yǎn liǎng xià zi ma?
    Can you show everyone a few moves (a little performance)?

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

两下
两liǎngtwo下xiàtime
偏正Modifier + head
子zǐnominal suffix

两下 means a couple of times, and 子 forms the word for a trick or ability.

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.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract ConceptsMeasure Words

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