俩

• Pinyin: liǎ
• Hanzi breakdown: 俩 = 亻(person) + 两 (two) — two people

Meaning

Two (people); a pair; both. A colloquial contraction of 两个, used specifically for counting two people.

An informal, colloquial word meaning two people. It is a contraction of 两个 and is NEVER followed by a measure word — 俩 already includes the measure word 个. Common patterns: 我们俩 (the two of us), 他们俩 (the two of them), 你们俩 (you two). Only used for people, not objects.

Examples

1. 我们俩从小就是好朋友。 The two of us have been good friends since childhood.
2. 他们俩的性格完全不一样。 The two of them have completely different personalities.
3. 你们俩别吵了，好好说话。 You two, stop arguing and talk properly.

Usage Guide

Context: casual speech, everyday, relationships

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 我们俩一起去吧。(Let's go together, just the two of us.)
• 他们俩是双胞胎。(The two of them are twins.)

Don't Say

• 俩个人一起来的 (Never add a measure word after 俩 — it already includes 个; say 俩人 or 两个人)

Origin & History

A colloquial contraction from 两个 (liǎng gè), merging two (两) and the measure word (个) into a single spoken unit. The character 俩 combines 亻(person) and 两 (two).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal