両
both, old Japanese coin, counter for carriages (e.g., in a train), two
Readings
On'yomi
- リョウ
Kun'yomi
- てる
- ふたつ
Nanori
- もろ
Meaning
両 centers on the idea of a pair or two things together: both, two, or a matched set. The counter for carriages and the old coin sense are specific applications of this paired or double concept.
Most common words using 両
24 of 257- 両りょうN2
both (hands, parents, sides, etc.)
- 両方りょうほうN4
both; both sides; both parties
- 車両しゃりょうN1
(wheeled) vehicle; car; (railroad) car; (railway) carriage; rolling stock
- 両親りょうしんN5
parents; both parents
- 両手りょうてN1
both hands; both arms
- 両者りょうしゃN1
pair; the two; both persons; both things
- 両立りょうりつN2
compatibility; coexistence; standing together
- 両国りょうこく
both countries
- 両面りょうめんN1
both sides; two sides; double-sided
- 両側りょうがわN2
both sides
- 両足りょうあし
both feet
- 両論りょうろん
both arguments; both opinions
- 両替りょうがえN4
change; money exchange
- 両端りょうたんN1
both ends; either end; both edges
- 両日りょうじつ
both days; two days
- 両院りょういん
both houses of parliament; both upper and lower house
- 両氏りょうし
both persons
- 両輪りょうりん
two wheels
- 両翼りょうよく
both wings; both flanks
- 両雄りょうゆう
two great men
- 両党りょうとう
both (political) parties
- 十両じゅうりょう
second highest division; wrestlers of the second highest division
- 両軍りょうぐん
both armies
- 両岸りょうがん
both banks (of a river)
Study
Etymology
両 is the modern simplified form of 兩. The older form 兩 likely depicted a pair of something, such as two yoked horses or a balanced scale, representing the idea of two or both.
Meaning mnemonic
The shape looks like a balanced pair: the top line is a connecting bar, and the inner strokes are two matching halves. Picture a scale with two equal sides, representing both or two.
Reading mnemonic
For リョウ, imagine a pair of lions (ライオン) standing together: the first syllable 'ryo' from a made-up word 'ryon' cues リョウ, and the two lions represent both.