二
Character learning workspace

èr · two

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 1HSK 3.0 · Level 1Frequency #664
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 二

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 二 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

2Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

二Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 二 writing sheet

Get a ready-to-use A4 sheet immediately, or open the full builder to change its grid and guidance.

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 二

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

èrWords pronounced èr
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Example sentences

Notice where 二 sits in each complete thought.

Bù, shì èr shǒu de.不,是二手的。

No, it's second-hand.

Source: Tatoeba #6017295 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè zhēn shì hǎo dé dúyīwúèr!这真是好得独一无二!

This is uniquely good.

Source: Tatoeba #10002038 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè lǐ de tiān qì yǒu dúyīwúèr de tè diǎn.这里的天气有独一无二的特点。

The weather here has its own unique characteristics.

Source: Tatoeba #1314355 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ bù néng yì xīn èr yòng.我不能一心二用。

I can't do two things at a time.

Source: Tatoeba #372373 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ yàoshi zhōuyī bù lái de huà, nǐ zhōu èr yě bié děng wǒ le.我要是周一不来的话,你周二也别等我了。

If I do not come on Monday, you do not need to bother waiting for me on Tuesday either.

Source: Tatoeba #7774765 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Èr cì hán shù zài zhè lǐ shì bù kě yòng de.二次函数在这里是不可用的。

A quadratic function cannot be used here.

Source: Tatoeba #2467695 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 二 in context

  1. Say èr, then recall the core meaning: two.
  2. Write all 2 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 二手 (èr shǒu), meaning “indirectly acquired”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 二 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.