二
ni[ɲ̟i]
The English word 'two' can be expressed in Japanese as 二 (ni), 二つ or ツー.
Meaning: cardinal number 2 (num)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 二 | ni | [ɲ̟i] (narrow) [ɾʲã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| 二つ | futatsu | [ɸɯ̟ta̠t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| ツー | tsū | [t͡sɨː] (narrow) |
Japanese uses different forms of 'two' depending on the context. The form 二 is used for abstract numbers, as a digit or in mathematical contexts such as saying 'two times two'. When counting people, you should use the counter 'nin' after the number. To express 'two o'clock', the number 二 is combined with the counter 時 (ji).
Which one should you use?
The form 二 is used for the abstract number or as part of a larger number. In contrast, 二つ is used when counting general objects or things that do not have a specific counter. The form ツー is a loanword from English and is used in specific modern or technical settings, such as in music to refer to a duet or a two-piece set.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
ni
Did you know?
- The word for 'two' in Old Japanese, futa, is actually a doubled version of the word for 'one', hito.
- The kanji 二 is one of the simplest characters in the language, consisting of only two horizontal strokes to visually represent the number 'two'.
- The English loanword ツー is used so frequently in modern Japanese pop culture and music that it sounds more 'stylish' than the traditional 二つ in certain contexts.
Examples in context
- 二の二倍は四。Twice two is equal to four.This sentence illustrates a mathematical context using 二.Tatoeba #123156 by small_snow, translation #280844 by AlanF_US
- 午後二時です。It's two o'clock in the afternoon.This sentence shows how to express time using 二.Tatoeba #174380 by small_snow, translation #240089 by CK
- 二列になって。Form two lines.This sentence demonstrates the use of 'two' in a sequence or line using 二.Tatoeba #10590373 by small_snow, translation #1553508 by CK
- ペンを ふたつ ください。Please give me two pens.
- futari (2人)Two people
- 456 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two siblings are at a shop buying snacks.
- 陽太 Yota二つ買おう。Futatsu kaou.Let's buy two.
- 陽葵 Himari二つでいいの？Futatsu de ii no?Is two enough?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、二つあれば足りるよ。Un, futatsu areba tariru yo.Yeah, two will be enough.
- 陽葵 Himariわかった、じゃあ二つにするね。Wakatta, jaa futatsu ni suru ne.Okay, then I'll take two.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “two” translations and entries 二, 二つ, ツー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
