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