liang3
two; both; some; a few; tael, unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (old)

strokes 8
radical
strokes after radical 6
半斤八两 半斤八兩 ban4 jin1 ba1 liang3
not much to choose between the two; tweedledum and tweedledee

参两院 參兩院 can1 liang3 yuan4
both houses of US Congress

此地无银三百两 此地無銀三百兩 ci3 di4 wu2 yin2 san1 bai3 liang3
lit. 300 silver taels not hidden here (idiom); fig. to reveal what one intends to hide

分星掰两 分星掰兩 fen1 xing1 bai1 liang3
punctilious; clear and detailed

公两 公兩 gong1 liang3
hectogram

国共两党 國共兩黨 guo2 gong4 liang3 dang3
Guomindang 國民黨|国民党 and Chinese Communist Party 共產黨|共产党

海峡两岸关系协会 海峽兩岸關係協會 hai3 xia2 liang3 an4 guan1 xi5 xie2 hui4
PRC Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS)

汉贼不两立 漢賊不兩立 han4 zei2 bu4 liang3 li4
lit. Shu Han 蜀漢|蜀汉 and Cao Wei 曹魏 cannot coexist (idiom); fig. two enemies cannot live under the same sky; (former KMT slogan against CPC) "gentlemen and thieves cannot coexist"

后两者 後兩者 hou4 liang3 zhe3
the latter two

脚踩两只船 腳踩兩隻船 jiao3 cai3 liang3 zhi1 chuan2
see 腳踏兩隻船|脚踏两只船

脚踏两条船 腳踏兩條船 jiao3 ta4 liang3 tiao2 chuan2
lit. to stand with each foot in a different boat (idiom); fig. to have it both ways; to run after two hares; (especially) to have two lovers at the same time

脚踏两只船 腳踏兩隻船 jiao3 ta4 liang3 zhi1 chuan2
to have a foot in both camps; to have a bet each way; to be having an affair

介于两难 介於兩難 jie4 yu2 liang3 nan2
to be on the horns of a dilemma (idiom)

斤两 斤兩 jin1 liang3
weight; (fig.) importance

进退两难 進退兩難 jin4 tui4 liang3 nan2
no room to advance or to retreat (idiom); without any way out of a dilemma; trapped; in an impossible situation

蜡烛两头烧 蠟燭兩頭燒 la4 zhu2 liang3 tou2 shao1
to burn the candle at both ends (idiom); to labor under a double burden

老两口儿 老兩口兒 lao3 liang3 kou3 er5
an old married couple

两岸 兩岸 liang3 an4
bilateral; both shores; both sides; both coasts; Taiwan and mainland

两岸对话 兩岸對話 liang3 an4 dui4 hua4
bilateral talks

两岸三地 兩岸三地 liang3 an4 san1 di4
China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau (media term used esp. since 1997)

两把刷子 兩把刷子 liang3 ba3 shua1 zi5
ability; skill

两败俱伤 兩敗俱傷 liang3 bai4 ju4 shang1
both sides suffer (idiom); neither side wins

两倍 兩倍 liang3 bei4
twice as much; double the amount

两边 兩邊 liang3 bian5
either side; both sides

两步路 兩步路 liang3 bu4 lu4
a step away; very close

两不误 兩不誤 liang3 bu4 wu4
to neglect neither one

两不相欠 兩不相欠 liang3 bu4 xiang1 qian4
to be even; to be quits; to be even-steven

两侧 兩側 liang3 ce4
two sides; both sides

两侧对称 兩側對稱 liang3 ce4 dui4 chen4
bilateral symmetry

两弹一星 兩彈一星 liang3 dan4 yi1 xing1
refers to the historical achievement of China by 1970 in producing and successfully detonating an atomic bomb (1964), a hydrogen bomb (1967) and launching a satellite into space (1970)

两当 兩當 liang3 dang1
Liangdang county in Longnan 隴南|陇南, Gansu

两当县 兩當縣 liang3 dang1 xian4
Liangdang county in Longnan 隴南|陇南, Gansu

两党制 兩黨制 liang3 dang3 zhi4
two-party system

两德 兩德 liang3 de2
two Germanies; refers to German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)

两点水 兩點水 liang3 dian3 shui3
name of "ice" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 15); see also 冫

两端 兩端 liang3 duan1
both ends (of a stick etc); two extremes

两耳不闻窗外事 兩耳不聞窗外事 liang3 er3 bu4 wen2 chuang1 wai4 shi4
to pay no attention to outside matters

两方 兩方 liang3 fang1
both sides (in contract); the two opposing sides (in a dispute)

两分法 兩分法 liang3 fen1 fa3
(Maoism) one divides into two

两个中国 兩個中國 liang3 ge4 zhong1 guo2
two-China (policy)

两广 兩廣 liang3 guang3
the two provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi (traditional)

两广总督 兩廣總督 liang3 guang3 zong3 du1
Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi

两国 兩國 liang3 guo2
both countries; two countries

两国关系 兩國關係 liang3 guo2 guan1 xi4
bilateral relations

两国相争,不斩来使 兩國相爭,不斬來使 liang3 guo2 xiang1 zheng1 - bu4 zhan3 lai2 shi3
when two kingdoms are at war, they don't execute envoys (idiom)

两国之间 兩國之間 liang3 guo2 zhi1 jian1
bilateral; between two countries

两汉 兩漢 liang3 han4
Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD); refers to the Western Han and Eastern Han

两河 兩河 liang3 he2
two rivers; Mesopotamia

两河流域 兩河流域 liang3 he2 liu2 yu4
Mesopotamia

两河文明 兩河文明 liang3 he2 wen2 ming2
Mesopotamian civilization

两湖 兩湖 liang3 hu2
Hubei 湖北 and Hunan 湖南 provinces

两虎相斗 兩虎相鬥 liang3 hu3 xiang1 dou4
two tigers fight (idiom); fig. a dispute between two powerful adversaries; a battle of the giants

两虎相斗,必有一伤 兩虎相鬥,必有一傷 liang3 hu3 xiang1 dou4 - bi4 you3 yi1 shang1
when two tigers fight, one will get injured (idiom); if it comes to a fight, someone will get hurt.

两虎相争 兩虎相爭 liang3 hu3 xiang1 zheng1
two tigers fighting (idiom); fierce contest between evenly matched adversaries

两虎相争,必有一伤 兩虎相爭,必有一傷 liang3 hu3 xiang1 zheng1 - bi4 you3 yi1 shang1
if two tigers fight, one will get injured (idiom); if you start a war, someone is bound to get hurt

两回事 兩回事 liang3 hui2 shi4
two quite different things; two unrelated matters

两会 兩會 liang3 hui4
National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

两极 兩極 liang3 ji2
the two poles; the north and south poles; both ends of sth; electric or magnetic poles

两极分化 兩極分化 liang3 ji2 fen1 hua4
polarization

两颊生津 兩頰生津 liang3 jia2 sheng1 jin1
mouth-watering; to whet one's appetite

两江道 兩江道 liang3 jiang1 dao4
Ryanggang province province in north North Korea, adjacent to Jilin province

两脚架 兩腳架 liang3 jiao3 jia4
bipod (supporting a machine gun etc)

两节棍 兩節棍 liang3 jie2 gun4
nunchaku

两句 兩句 liang3 ju4
(say) a few words

两口子 兩口子 liang3 kou3 zi5
husband and wife

两肋插刀 兩肋插刀 liang3 lei4 cha1 dao1
lit. knifes piercing both sides (idiom); fig. to attach a great importance to friendship, up to the point of being able to sacrifice oneself for it

两立 兩立 liang3 li4
to coexist; coexistence

两码事 兩碼事 liang3 ma3 shi4
two quite different things; another kettle of fish

两面 兩面 liang3 mian4
both sides

两面派 兩面派 liang3 mian4 pai4
two-faced person; double-dealing

两面三刀 兩面三刀 liang3 mian4 san1 dao1
two-faced, three knives (idiom); double-cross; double dealing and back stabbing

两难 兩難 liang3 nan2
dilemma; quandary

两旁 兩旁 liang3 pang2
both sides; either side

两栖 兩棲 liang3 qi1
amphibious; dual-talented; able to work in two different lines

两栖动物 兩棲動物 liang3 qi1 dong4 wu4
amphibian; amphibious animals

两栖类 兩棲類 liang3 qi1 lei4
class Amphibia; amphibians

两讫 兩訖 liang3 qi4
received and paid for (business term); the goods delivered and the bill settled

两千年 兩千年 liang3 qian1 nian2
the year 2000; 2000 years

两亲 兩親 liang3 qin1
see 雙親|双亲

两清 兩清 liang3 qing1
loan settled (business term); business complete to the satisfaction of both parties

两情两愿 兩情兩願 liang3 qing2 liang3 yuan4
by mutual consent (north China dialect)

两情相悦 兩情相悅 liang3 qing2 xiang1 yue4
(of a couple) to be harmonious; to be each other's sunshine

两全 兩全 liang3 quan2
to satisfy both sides; to accommodate both (demands)

两全其美 兩全其美 liang3 quan2 qi2 mei3
to satisfy rival demands (idiom); to get the best of both worlds; to have it both ways; to have one's cake and eat it too

两生类 兩生類 liang3 sheng1 lei4
class Amphibia; also written 兩棲類|两栖类

两手不沾阳春水 兩手不沾陽春水 liang3 shou3 bu4 zhan1 yang2 chun1 shui3
see 十指不沾陽春水|十指不沾阳春水

两手空空 兩手空空 liang3 shou3 kong1 kong1
empty-handed (idiom); fig. not receiving anything

两宋 兩宋 liang3 song4
the Song dynasty (960-1279); refers to the Northern (960-1127) and Southern Song (1128-1279)

两头 兩頭 liang3 tou2
both ends; both parties to a deal

两头儿 兩頭兒 liang3 tou2 er5
erhua variant of 兩頭|两头

两下 兩下 liang3 xia4
twice; for a little while

两下子 兩下子 liang3 xia4 zi5
a couple of times; to repeat the same; the same old trick; tricks of the trade

两相 兩相 liang3 xiang1
both sides

两厢情愿 兩廂情願 liang3 xiang1 qing2 yuan4
both sides are willing; by mutual consent

两相情愿 兩相情願 liang3 xiang1 qing2 yuan4
both sides are willing; by mutual consent

两相 兩相 liang3 xiang4
two-phase (physics)

两小无猜 兩小無猜 liang3 xiao3 wu2 cai1
innocent playmates

两星期 兩星期 liang3 xing1 qi1
fortnight

两性 兩性 liang3 xing4
the two sexes; bisexual; hermaphrodite; having two characteristics; heterosexual

两性差距 兩性差距 liang3 xing4 cha1 ju4
disparity between the sexes

两性动物 兩性動物 liang3 xing4 dong4 wu4
hermaphrodite creature

两性花 兩性花 liang3 xing4 hua1
hermaphrodite flower

两性平等 兩性平等 liang3 xing4 ping2 deng3
equality between the sexes

两性异形 兩性異形 liang3 xing4 yi4 xing2
sexual dimorphism

两袖清风 兩袖清風 liang3 xiu4 qing1 feng1
lit. both sleeves flowing in the breeze (idiom); having clean hands; uncorrupted; unsoiled by corrupt practices

两样 兩樣 liang3 yang4
two kinds; difference

两样东西 兩樣東西 liang3 yang4 dong1 xi5
two distinct things

两伊战争 兩伊戰爭 liang3 yi1 zhan4 zheng1
Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)

两仪 兩儀 liang3 yi2
heaven and earth; yin and yang

两用 兩用 liang3 yong4
dual-use

两院 兩院 liang3 yuan4
two chambers (of legislative assembly), e.g. House of Representatives and Senate

两院制 兩院制 liang3 yuan4 zhi4
bicameralism; bicameral legislative system

两造 兩造 liang3 zao4
both parties (to a lawsuit); plaintiff and defendant

两着儿 兩著兒 liang3 zhao1 er5
the same old trick; illegal device

两者 兩者 liang3 zhe3
both sides

模棱两可 模稜兩可 mo2 leng2 liang3 ke3
equivocal; ambiguous

判若两人 判若兩人 pan4 ruo4 liang3 ren2
to be a different person; not to be one's usual self

清风两袖 清風兩袖 qing1 feng1 liang3 xiu4
honest and upright (idiom)

人财两空 人財兩空 ren2 cai2 liang3 kong1
loss of life and property; to lose the beauty and her possessions

三长两短 三長兩短 san1 chang2 liang3 duan3
unexpected misfortune; unexpected accident; sudden death

三脚两步 三腳兩步 san1 jiao3 liang3 bu4
hurriedly; just a few steps away

三两 三兩 san1 liang3
two or three

三三两两 三三兩兩 san1 san1 liang3 liang3
in twos and threes

三天打鱼,两天晒网 三天打魚,兩天曬網 san1 tian1 da3 yu2 - liang3 tian1 shai4 wang3
lit. to fish for three days and sun-dry the nets for two days (proverb); fig. not to persevere in doing sth; to do sth by fits and starts

三天两头 三天兩頭 san1 tian1 liang3 tou2
lit. twice every three days (idiom); practically every day; frequently

三瓦两舍 三瓦兩舍 san1 wa3 liang3 she4
places of pleasure (like brothels, tea houses etc)

三下两下 三下兩下 san1 xia4 liang3 xia4
quickly and effortlessly (idiom)

三言两句 三言兩句 san1 yan2 liang3 ju4
in a few words (idiom); expressed succinctly

三言两语 三言兩語 san1 yan2 liang3 yu3
in a few words (idiom); expressed succinctly

势不两立 勢不兩立 shi4 bu4 liang3 li4
the two cannot exist together (idiom); irreconcilable differences; incompatible standpoints

誓不两立 誓不兩立 shi4 bu4 liang3 li4
the two cannot exist together (idiom); irreconcilable differences; incompatible standpoints

市两 市兩 shi4 liang3
Chinese unit of weight equivalent to 50 grams

水陆两用 水陸兩用 shui3 lu4 liang3 yong4
amphibious (vehicle)

小两口 小兩口 xiao3 liang3 kou3
(coll.) young married couple

小两口儿 小兩口兒 xiao3 liang3 kou3 er5
erhua variant of 小兩口|小两口

一次生,两次熟 一次生,兩次熟 yi1 ci4 sheng1 - liang3 ci4 shu2
unfamiliar at first but you get used to it; strangers are first meeting, but soon friends; an acquired taste

一刀两断 一刀兩斷 yi1 dao1 liang3 duan4
lit. two segments with a single cut (idiom); fig. to make a clean break (idiom)

一分钱两分货 一分錢兩分貨 yi1 fen1 qian2 liang3 fen1 huo4
high quality at bargain price

一个头两个大 一個頭兩個大 yi1 ge5 tou2 liang3 ge5 da4
(coll.) to feel as though one's head could explode (Tw)

一国两制 一國兩制 yi1 guo2 liang3 zhi4
one country, two systems (PRC proposal regarding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan)

一回生两回熟 一回生兩回熟 yi1 hui2 sheng1 liang3 hui2 shu2
see 一回生二回熟

一举两得 一舉兩得 yi1 ju3 liang3 de2
one move, two gains (idiom); two birds with one stone

一拍两散 一拍兩散 yi1 pai1 liang3 san4
(of marriage or business partners) to break up (idiom); to separate

一身两役 一身兩役 yi1 shen1 liang3 yi4
one person taking on two tasks simultaneously

一体两面 一體兩面 yi1 ti3 liang3 mian4
lit. one body two sides (idiom); fig. a situation with two sides to it

一折两段 一折兩段 yi1 zhe2 liang3 duan4
to split sth into two (idiom)

银两 銀兩 yin2 liang3
silver currency; currency of the Qing dynasty based on the silver tael 兩|两

英两 英兩 ying1 liang3
British imperial ounce (old)

有两下子 有兩下子 you3 liang3 xia4 zi5
to have real skill; to know one's stuff

炸两 炸兩 zha2 liang3
(Cantonese cuisine) zhaliang, rice noodle rolls 腸粉|肠粉 stuffed with youtiao 油條|油条

着三不着两 著三不著兩 zhao2 san1 bu4 zhao2 liang3
scatter-brained; thoughtless

正反两面 正反兩面 zheng4 fan3 liang3 mian4
two-way; reversible; both sides of the coin

左右两难 左右兩難 zuo3 you4 liang3 nan2
dilemma; quandary; Scylla and Charybdis; between the devil and the deep blue sea (idiom)