<p>These sentences are grammatically correct.</p>
<p>你们二位=你们两位=你们两个√；</p>
<p>你们二个×；</p>
<p>They are idiomatic usages.</p>
<p>二 is allowed be used before some traditional quantifiers(measure words) like 二尺,二里,二亩,二斤,</p>
<p>and 两 is allowed before all quantifiers especially you should use 两 before some new quantifiers like 两米(m),两千米(km),两吨(ton).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-17T08:41:26.130Z
2021-12-17T08:41:26.130Z
CallmeT
<p>We often read in grammar books, that before measure words one should not use 二. Instead, we should say 两
Hence, 二本书 would be incorrect. One should say 两本书.</p>
<p>But I have come across two cases in genuine Chinese learning materials where 二 is used before the measure word.</p>
<ol>
<li>二斤半苹果 :two and a half jins apples</li>
<li>你们二位: you two</li>
</ol>
<p>Are these sentences grammatically incorrect?</p>

<grammar><measure-word>
Using 二 before measure words instead of 两
# Using 二 before measure words instead of 两

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-12-17)

We often read in grammar books, that before measure words one should not use 二. Instead, we should say 两
Hence, 二本书 would be incorrect. One should say 两本书.

But I have come across two cases in genuine Chinese learning materials where 二 is used before the measure word.

1. 二斤半苹果 :two and a half jins apples
2. 你们二位: you two

Are these sentences grammatically incorrect?

**Tags:** grammar, measure-word


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-12-17. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

These sentences are grammatically correct.

你们二位=你们两位=你们两个√；

你们二个×；

They are idiomatic usages.

二 is allowed be used before some traditional quantifiers(measure words) like 二尺,二里,二亩,二斤,

and 两 is allowed before all quantifiers especially you should use 两 before some new quantifiers like 两米(m),两千米(km),两吨(ton).


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