二
two · two radical (no. 7)
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Two horizontal strokes representing 'two'.
Symbolism
Pair, yin-yang, balance. Represents concept of two making a set.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一石二鳥
いっせきにちょう
killing two birds with one stone; killing two birds with one stone
遮二無二
しゃにむに
desperately; recklessly; (rushing) headlong; desperately
二股膏薬
ふたまたこうやく
double-dealer; timeserver; moving back and forth between two sides in a conflict; double-dealer
二者選一
にしゃせんいつ
choosing between two things; two choices; choosing between two things
二者択一
にしゃたくいつ
choosing between two things; two choices; choosing between two things
二人三脚
ににんさんきゃく
three-legged race; cooperation with singleness of purpose (e.g. between companies); operating in tandem; three-legged race
二律背反
にりつはいはん
antinomy; self-contradiction; either-or situation; antinomy
二六時中
にろくじちゅう
night and day; all the time; night and day
無二無三
むにむさん
in earnest; single-minded; with intense concentration; in earnest
唯一無二
ゆいいつむに
one and only; unique; one and only
二束三文
にそくさんもん
dirt cheap; very cheap; dirt cheap
二転三転
にてんさんてん
changing again and again; seesawing back and forth; being in a state of flux; changing again and again
二枚看板
にまいかんばん
the two leading actors (in a play); the two star players; the two distinctive features; the two leading actors (in a play)
唯一不二
ゆいいつふじ
one and only; unique; one and only
二河白道
にがびゃくどう
the road to paradise is a white road between two rivers, one of water (wrath) and one of fire (greed); the road to paradise is a white road between two rivers, one of water (wrath) and one of fire (greed)
Proverbs & Idioms
二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず
にとをおうものはいっとをもえず
He who chases two rabbits catches neither
Being greedy leads to losing everything
二階から目薬
にかいからめぐすり
Eye drops from the second floor
An indirect approach that is ineffective
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 二 mean in Japanese?
二 means two, two radical (no. 7).
How do you read 二?
On'yomi: ニ、ジ (NI, JI). Kun'yomi: ふた、ふた.つ、ふたたび (futa, futatsu, futatabi).
How many strokes does 二 have?
二 has 2 strokes. Its radical is 二 (two).
Is 二 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 二 (two, two radical (no. 7)) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for two