in twos and threes; in small groups
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadverb
in twos and threes; in small groups
Describes people gathering or moving in small, scattered groups rather than in a continuous stream or large crowd. Often used with verbs like 走, 散步, 来, 去 to describe the manner of movement.
Bàng傍
wǎn晚
，
rén人
men们
sān三
sān三
liǎng两
liǎng两
de地
zài在
hé河
biān边
sàn散
bù步
。
In the evening, people strolled along the riverbank in twos and threes.
Huì会
yì议
jié结
shù束
hòu后
，
dà大
jiā家
sān三
sān三
liǎng两
liǎng两
de地
lí离
kāi开
le了
huì会
yì议
shì室
。
After the meeting ended, everyone left the conference room in small groups.
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Yóu游
kè客
men们
sān三
sān三
liǎng两
liǎng两
de地
zǒu走
zài在
gǔ古
zhèn镇
de的
shí石
bǎn板
lù路
shàng上
。
Tourists walked along the ancient town's stone-paved paths in scattered groups.
Xià下
kè课
líng铃
xiǎng响
le了
，
xué学
sheng生
men们
sān三
sān三
liǎng两
liǎng两
de地
zǒu走
chū出
jiào教
shì室
。
When the bell rang, students exited the classroom in twos and threes.