Usage note
“两”表示数字2，常用于量词前，比如“两个苹果”。
“liǎng” biǎoshì shùzì 2, cháng yòng yú liàngcí qián, bǐrú “liǎng gè píngguǒ”.
It means the number two and is usually used before measure words, like in “two apples”.
Context note
“两”用在数字和量词前，表示数量二，比如两个人、两只猫。它和“二”用法不同，多在日常口语里出现。
“liǎng” yòng zài shùzì hé liàngcí qián, biǎoshì shùliàng èr, bǐrú liǎng gè rén, liǎng zhī māo. Tā hé “èr” yòngfǎ bùtóng, duō zài rìcháng kǒuyǔ lǐ chūxiàn.
“两” is used before measure words to mean two of something, like two people or two cats. It is different from “二” and is more common in everyday spoken Chinese.
5 examples
我有两个苹果
wǒ yǒu liǎng gè píng guǒ
I have two apples.
他们有两只狗
tā men yǒu liǎng zhī gǒu
They have two dogs.
我们班上有两排桌子
wǒ men bān shàng yǒu liǎng pái zhuō zi
There are two rows of desks in our class.
我每天看两次电视
wǒ měi tiān kàn liǎng cì diàn shì
I watch TV twice a day.
他有两个妹妹
tā yǒu liǎng gè mèi mei
He has two sisters.
5 mini stories
妈妈买了两颗糖果。爸爸也给了她两颗。
mā ma mǎi le liǎng kē táng guǒ。 bà ba yě gěi le tā liǎng kē。
Mom bought two candies. Dad also gave her two.
小明有两个朋友，他们经常一起玩。
xiǎo míng yǒu liǎng gè péng yǒu， tā men jīng cháng yì qǐ wán。
Xiaoming has two friends who often play together.
我们班上有两排书架。每排有二十本书。
wǒ men bān shàng yǒu liǎng pái shū jià。 měi pái yǒu èr shí běn shū。
There are two rows of bookshelves in our class. Each row has twenty books.
奶奶做了两个蛋糕，一个给爷爷，一个给自己。
nǎi nai zuò le liǎng gè dàn gāo， yí gè gěi yé ye， yí gè gěi zì jǐ。
Grandma made two cakes, one for Grandpa and one for herself.
小红有两个哥哥，他们都很聪明。
xiǎo hóng yǒu liǎng gè gē ge， tā men dōu hěn cōng ming。
Xiaohong has two brothers who are both very smart.
Mini dialogue
两个苹果
A
你有几个苹果？
Nǐ yǒu jǐ ge píngguǒ?
How many apples do you have?
B
我有两个苹果。
Wǒ yǒu liǎng ge píngguǒ.
I have two apples.
两只手
A
你有几只手？
Nǐ yǒu jǐ zhī shǒu?
How many hands do you have?
B
我有两只手。
Wǒ yǒu liǎng zhī shǒu.
I have two hands.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
二
èr
two
两 is used before measure words (e.g., 两个), while 二 is used for counting.
related
双
shuāng
pair
双 means a pair of something, like shoes or hands.