俩 (liǎ) — two (colloquial, equivalent to 两个); both (used after a pronoun for two people)
Definition
俩 (liǎ) is a casual, spoken alternative to 两个 for 'two (people)'. Unlike 两, it never takes a measure word — use it alone after a pronoun like 我们俩 or directly for people, never for things.
quantifier
two (colloquial, equivalent to 两个)both (used after a pronoun for two people)
Examples
- 俩。Wǒ men liǎ míng tiān qù kàn diàn yǐng ba.The two of us will go see a movie tomorrow.
- 。Tā liǎ shì cóng xiǎo yì qǐ zhǎng dà de hǎo péng you.The two of them have been good friends since they were young.
- 俩，。Wǒ mǎi le liǎ píng guǒ, yì rén yí gè.I bought two apples, one for each person.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 倆; 俩 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
兩
兩liǎng倆liǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
This note is about the traditional form 倆, not the simplified 俩. In 倆, 亻 is the person part and 兩 gives the sound.
Appears in
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