Where it goes
两 + measure + noun: 两个人, 两杯咖啡. 二 in sequences and dates: 一二三四, 二月, 第二.
What it does
- 01两 before measure words: 两个学生, 两匹马
- 02两 before 百 / 千 / 万: 两百块, 两千人
- 03二 in counting, ordinals, dates and maths: 一、二、三; 二月; 百分之二
- 04Phone numbers, room numbers and codes use 二 digit by digit.
Common learner errors
- ⚠二个学生 → 两个学生
- ⚠二本书 → 两本书
- ⚠But 二月 (February) is correct with 二 — dates are a 二 zone.