二: the kanji for two
二 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means two. Below are its readings, 14 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
二 is written in 2 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
二 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 10 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ニ (ni)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 二月にがつ · nigatsu | February |
| 二時にじ · niji | two o'clock |
| 二回にかい · nikai | twice |
| 二階にかい · nikai | second floor |
| 二度にど · nido | twice; a second time |
| 二番目にばんめ · nibanme | second |
| 二重にじゅう · nijū | double |
| 二千にせん · nisen | two thousand |
| 十二月じゅうにがつ · jūnigatsu | December |
ふたつ (futatsu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 二つふたつ · futatsu | two (things) |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 二, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 二人ふたり · futari | two people |
| 二日ふつか · futsuka | the 2nd of the month; two days |
| 二十日はつか · hatsuka | the 20th of the month; twenty days |
| 二十歳はたち · hatachi | twenty years old |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 会議室は二階です。Kaigishitsu wa nikai desu.The meeting room is on the second floor.
- 二人で出張に行きます。Futari de shutchō ni ikimasu.The two of us are going on a business trip.
- 二時に駅で会いましょう。Niji ni eki de aimashō.Let's meet at the station at two.
- 同じメールが二回届きました。Onaji mēru ga nikai todokimashita.I got the same email twice.
- コーヒーを二つお願いします。Kōhī o futatsu onegai shimasu.Two coffees, please.
- 弟は二十歳になりました。Otōto wa hatachi ni narimashita.My younger brother turned twenty.
Questions about 二
How many strokes does 二 have?
二 is written in 2 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 二?
The on readings are ni (ニ). The kun readings are futa (ふた), futatsu (ふたつ).
How do you say "20 years old" in Japanese?
Say 二十歳 (hatachi). It is a special reading listed in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 二?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Numbers and money
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 二
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.