二

• Reading: に
• Romaji: ni
• Kanji breakdown: 二 (ni/futa) — two
• Pronunciation: /ni/

Meaning

Two; 2. A fundamental number used in counting and everyday contexts.

Read as に in the Sino-Japanese system and ふた in the native Japanese system. Appears in many common words like 二人 (futari, two people), 二月 (nigatsu, February), and 二階 (nikai, second floor). Unlike English, Japanese has two distinct number systems used in different contexts.

Examples

1. 二月は短いです。 February is short.
2. 子供が二人います。 I have two children.
3. 二番目のバスに乗ります。 I'll take the second bus.

Usage Guide

Context: counting, dates, quantities

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 二 consists of two horizontal strokes, directly representing the number two. One of the oldest and simplest Chinese characters.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal