Basic Meaning
The Korean word '두' primarily means 'two' or 'a couple of'. It is used as a native Korean number to count objects, people, or time units.
Usage in Counting
'두' is commonly used before counters to specify the quantity of something. For example, '두 개' means 'two pieces' or 'two items', and '두 사람' means 'two people'.
Time Expressions
You can use '두' with time units to express durations, such as '두 시간' (two hours).
Common Collocations
- 두 개: two items, used when counting objects
- 두 사람: two people, used when referring to people
- 두 시간: two hours, used for time durations
Notes
'두' is a native Korean number and is often used with counters. It differs from Sino-Korean numbers like '이' which also means 'two' but is used in different contexts such as dates, phone numbers, or formal counting.
Avoid mixing '두' with Sino-Korean counters. For example, say '두 명' (two people) instead of '이 명'.
Understanding when to use native Korean numbers like '두' versus Sino-Korean numbers is important for natural Korean speech.