Translation and Meaning of: 二 - ni

The Japanese word 二[に] is one of the most basic and essential terms for those learning the language. Representing the number "two," it appears in various everyday contexts, from simple counting to more complex expressions. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, practical use, and some curiosities that make this word so interesting for students and enthusiasts of the Japanese language. If you want to understand how 二[に] works in practice or how to memorize it easily, keep reading!

Meaning and origin of 二 [に]

The kanji 二 is one of the simplest in the Japanese language, composed of only two horizontal strokes that visually represent the idea of "two". Its most common reading, "ni", is widely used in counts, dates, and everyday situations. The origin of this character dates back to ancient China, where similar symbols were already used to indicate quantities.

In addition to its numerical meaning, 二 can also appear in compound words, such as 二人 (futari - two people) or 二月 (nigatsu - February). Its graphic simplicity makes it one of the first kanji taught in Japanese courses, but this does not diminish its importance in everyday vocabulary.

Practical use and frequency in Japanese

As a fundamental numeral, 二[に] appears very frequently in conversations, texts, and even in proper names. Unlike other numbers that may have contextual variations, "ni" retains its form in most situations. A common example is its use in ages (二歳 - nisai - two years) or in addresses (二丁目 - nichōme - second district).

It is worth noting that, despite being simple, the pronunciation of 二 can change in some combinations. In words like 二日 (futsuka - two days), the reading becomes "futsu", showing how even basic terms can have particularities in the Japanese language. This type of variation is important for those who wish to master the language naturally.

Tips for memorization and curiosities

An effective way to memorize 二[に] is to associate its shape with the two fingers, index and middle, raised, a universal gesture to represent the number two. Another strategy is to create flashcards with images that refer to pairs or doubles, connecting the meaning to the symbol visually.

Interestingly, in some regional dialects of Japan, such as the one in Osaka, the pronunciation of 二 can experience slight variations, but the standard form "ni" is understood throughout the country. For those studying Japanese, mastering this term is a crucial step before moving on to more complex numbers and their combinations.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 二 (ni) - Two
• 二つ (futatsu) - Two things
• ふた (futa) - Tampa or blanket, it can also refer to "two".
• にじゅう (nijuu) - Twenty (20)
• にじゅっ (nijyuu) - Twenty (variant of "nijuu")
• にじゅういち (nijuuichi) - Twenty-one (21)
• にじゅうに (nijuu ni) - Twenty-two (22)
• にじゅうさん (nijuu san) - Twenty-three (23)
• にじゅうし (nijuu shi) - Twenty-four (24)
• にじゅうご (nijuu go) - Twenty-five (25)
• にじゅうろく (nijuu roku) - Twenty-six (26)
• にじゅうしち (nijuu shichi) - Twenty-seven (27)
• にじゅうはち (nijuu hachi) - Twenty-eight (28)
• にじゅうく (nijuu ku) - Twenty-nine (29)
• にじゅうきゅう (nijuu kyuu) - Twenty-nine (variant of "nijuu ku")
• じ (ji) - Hour or unit of measurement
• じつ (jitsu) - Truth or reality

二

Romaji: ni
Kana: に
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: (num) two

Meaning in English: (num) two

Definition: One of the numbers.

Example Sentences - (二) ni

See below some example sentences:

私の年齢は二十五歳です。

Watashi no nenrei wa nijuugosai desu

My age is 25 years old.

My age is 25 years old.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 年齢 - noun that means "age"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 二十五 - numeral meaning "25"
• 歳 - suffix that indicates "years old"
• です - verb "to be" in the present affirmative

二つのりんごを食べました。

Futatsu no ringo wo tabemashita

I ate two apples.

I ate two apples.

• 二つの (futatsu no) - two
• りんご (ringo) - apples
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 食べました (tabemashita) - ate

二日酔いは辛いです。

Futsukayoi wa tsurai desu

The two-day hangover is tough.

A hangover is spicy.

• 二日酔い (futsukayoi) - two-day hangover
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 辛い (tsurai) - difficult, painful, bitter
• です (desu) - polite way of being

このパンを二つに割ってください。

Kono pan wo futatsu ni waratte kudasai

Please divide this bread into two pieces.

Divide this bread in two.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• パン - noun meaning "bread"
• を - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 二つ - numeral meaning "two"
• に - particle indicating the destination or place where the action takes place
• 割って - verb "割る" conjugated in the imperative, meaning "to divide"
• ください - verb "くださる" conjugated in the imperative, meaning "please"

この二つの会社は合同して新しいプロジェクトを始めます。

Kono futatsu no kaisha wa gōdō shite atarashii purojekuto o hajimemasu

These two companies start a new project together.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 二つ - numeral meaning "two"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 会社 - noun meaning "company"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 合同して - compound verb meaning "to unite" or "to come together"
• 新しい - adjective meaning "new"
• プロジェクト - noun meaning "project"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 始めます - verb meaning "to begin"

二つの人を結び付ける力は愛です。

Futatsu no hito wo musubi tsukeru chikara wa ai desu

The power to connect two people is love.

• 二つの人を結び付ける力 - the force that unites two people
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 愛 - love
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

二人の心は結び付く。

Futari no kokoro wa musubi tsuku

The hearts of the two unite.

The two hearts are tied together.

• 二人 - "Duas pessoas" in Japanese
• の - Possessive particle in Japanese
• 心 - "coração" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 結び付く - "Unite" or "connect" in Japanese

二つの物が等しいです。

Futatsu no mono ga hitoshii desu

The two objects are the same.

Two things are the same.

• 二つの物 - means "two objects" in Japanese.
• が - subject particle in Japanese.
• 等しい - It means "equal" in Japanese.
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate the existence or state of something.

二十日は私の誕生日です。

Nijuunichi wa watashi no tanjoubi desu

The 20th is my birthday.

Twenty days is my birthday.

• 二十日 - means "20th" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun meaning "I"
• の - Possession particle in Japanese
• 誕生日 - means "birthday" in Japanese
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, which indicates a statement or declaration

二人で行きましょう。

Futari de ikimashou

Let's go together, the two of us.

Let's go together.

• 二人 (futari) - It means "two people."
• で (de) - it is a particle that indicates the medium or the way something is done
• 行きましょう (ikimashou) - It is a verb that means "let's go" or "let's do"