Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 半
In Chinese, the character “半” (bàn) is used to express the concept of “half.”
It can be used in various contexts to describe half of an hour, a portion of something, or the middle of a time period.
In this lesson, we will explore the different ways to use “半” (bàn) with detailed explanations and examples.
FOR QUANTITIES & MEASUREMENTS
半 FOR QUANTITIES
When “半” is used with other nouns, it describes “half of” that particular thing.
Depending on the noun, you might use a measure word between “半” and the noun.
PATTERN
半 + Measure word + Noun
NOTE || In some cases, you can skip the measure word if the noun doesn’t require one.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 半杯水 | bàn bēi shuǐ | Half a cup of water |
| 半只鸡 | bàn zhī jī | Half a chicken |
| 半块蛋糕 | bàn kuài dàn gāo | Half a piece of cake |
半 FOR FRACTIONS
“半” can also be used in combination with numbers to form fractions, particularly to express “half” of something larger.
In such cases, it follows a noun or a number to indicate “half of.”
PATTERN
Noun + 半
| Chinese | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 一个半小时 | yī gè bàn xiǎo shí | One and a half hours |
| 两天半 | liǎng tiān bàn | Two and a half days |
| 三年半 | sān nián bàn | Three and a half years |
TO INDICATE TIME
半 IN TELLING TIME
One of the most common ways to use “半” is when telling time, especially when expressing “half an hour.”
In Chinese, the time format for saying “half past” an hour is by placing “半” after the hour.
PATTERN
Number of the hour + 点 (diǎn) + 半 (bàn)
This structure means “half past” the given hour.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 三点半 | sān diǎn bàn | 3:30 (half past three) |
| 八点半 | bā diǎn bàn | 8:30 (half past eight) |
| 十二点半 | shí èr diǎn bàn | 12:30 (half past twelve) |
半 IN TIME DURATION
“半” can also be used to describe half of an hour, day, or year when talking about durations of time.
PATTERN
半 + Measure word for time
| Chinese | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 半个小时 | bàn gè xiǎo shí | Half an hour |
| 半天 | bàn tiān | Half a day |
| 半年 | bàn nián | Half a year |
GRAMMAR NOTES
No Measure Word with Time
When using “半” with units of time like 小时 (hours) or 年 (years), the measure word “个” can be used but is often omitted. For example, “半小时” (half an hour) is correct, while “半个小时” also works.
Fixed Expressions with “半”
In some cases, “半” is part of a fixed phrase.
For instance, “半夜” (bàn yè) means “midnight” or “halfway through the night.”
| Chinese | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 半夜 | bàn yè | Midnight |
| 半路 | bàn lù | Halfway (on the road) |
| 半身 | bàn shēn | Half-body (used for clothing or injuries) |
MORE EXAMPLES
| Chinese | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 我们已经走了一半的路了。 | Wǒmen yǐjīng zǒu le yī bàn de lù le. | We have already walked half of the road. |
| 他每天只睡半个小时。 | Tā měi tiān zhǐ shuì bàn gè xiǎo shí. | He only sleeps for half an hour each day. |
| 我给你半块蛋糕吧。 | Wǒ gěi nǐ bàn kuài dàngāo ba. | I’ll give you half a piece of cake. |
| 我花了半年时间学汉语。 | Wǒ huā le bàn nián shíjiān xué hànyǔ. | I spent half a year learning Chinese. |
| 现在是八点半。 | Xiànzài shì bā diǎn bàn. | It’s 8:30 right now. |
IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
In Chinese, “半” (bàn) also forms many idiomatic expressions. These idioms are deeply embedded in Chinese culture and often carry meanings beyond their literal translations. Here, we’ll explore a few common idiomatic expressions that use “半” and their significance in everyday speech.
Common Idiomatic Expressions with “半”:
| Chinese | Pinyin | ENGLISH | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 半途而废 | bàn tú ér fèi | Give up halfway | This idiom describes starting something but giving up before finishing. It’s often used to criticize a lack of perseverance or commitment. |
| 半斤八两 | bàn jīn bā liǎng | Two of a kind | This expression means that two people or things are essentially the same (negatively), especially in faults or weaknesses. It can imply that both sides are equally flawed. |
| 半信半疑 | bàn xìn bàn yí | Half-believing, half-doubting | This idiom describes a situation where someone is unsure of something, caught between belief and scepticism. |
View Some Examples:
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他总是半途而废，难怪项目做不完。 | Tā zǒng shì bàn tú ér fèi, nán guài xiàngmù zuò bù wán. | He always gives up halfway, no wonder the project isn’t finished. |
| 他们俩半斤八两，谁也没比谁好多少。 | Tāmen liǎ bàn jīn bā liǎng, shéi yě méi bǐ shéi hǎo duōshǎo. | They are both two of a kind, neither is better than the other. |
| 我对他说的话半信半疑，不知道该不该相信。 | Wǒ duì tā shuō de huà bàn xìn bàn yí, bù zhīdào gāi bù gāi xiāngxìn. | I’m half-believing and half-doubting what he said, not sure whether to trust him. |
COMPARING 半 WITH SIMILAR TERMS
In Chinese, “半” (bàn) isn’t the only word that expresses the concept of “half” or “part.”
Let’s compare and contrast “半” (bàn) with similar terms such as “一半” (yī bàn) and “二分之一” (èr fēn zhī yī) to understand their subtle differences and when each should be used.
半 (bàn) vs. 一半 (yī bàn)
半 (bàn) usually refers to the general concept of “half” and is often used with specific time expressions (e.g., 半个小时) or quantities.
一半 (yī bàn) is more specific and directly means “one half” or “a part of something.” It is commonly used when dividing something into two parts or to refer to one of those parts.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他已经走了一半。 | Tā yǐjīng zǒu le yī bàn. | He has already walked halfway. | “一半” is used here to describe half of the journey. |
| 我们只用了半个小时。 | Wǒmen zhǐ yòng le bàn gè xiǎo shí. | We only used half an hour. | “半” is used for time duration. |
“半” (bàn) vs. “二分之一” (èr fēn zhī yī)
二分之一 (èr fēn zhī yī) literally means “one out of two parts” and is the mathematical expression of half (is how ½ is read in Chinese). It is mostly used in contexts that require exact fractions, such as math or formal situations.
半 (bàn), on the other hand, is more commonly used in casual conversation and does not always have to be as precise.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一杯水的二分之一是50毫升。 | Yī bēi shuǐ de èr fēn zhī yī shì 50 háoshēng. | Half of a cup of water is 50 milliliters. | “二分之一” is used for exact measurements. |
| 我吃了半个苹果。 | Wǒ chī le bàn gè píngguǒ. | I ate half an apple. | “半” is used for the more casual division of an apple. |
Summary of Differences:
| chinese | pinyin | english | usages |
|---|---|---|---|
| 半 | bàn | Half | General term for “half,” often used with time, quantities, and idiomatic expressions. |
| 一半 | yī bàn | One half | Refers to “one half” or “a part of something,” often used when dividing something in two. |
| 二分之一 | èr fēn zhī yī | One out of two parts | Mathematical expression of “half,” used in formal or precise contexts. |
SUMMARY
• “半” is used to express “half” in both time-related phrases and quantities.
• In time expressions, “半” usually comes after the hour to indicate “half past.”
• When expressing amounts or quantities, “半” can be followed by a measure word and a noun to describe half of something.
• There are also some fixed expressions involving “半,” which are common in daily speech.
• The use of “半” in Chinese idioms.
• “一半” (yī bàn), which also means “half” but is used differently
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FAQs
How is “半” typically used in expressing time?
“半” commonly represents “half” in time expressions, such as “三点半” (3:30).
Can “半” be used with other measurements?
Yes, “半” can also mean “half” for quantities, like “半公斤” (half a kilogram).
Where does “半” usually appear in a sentence?
“半” typically follows the main unit, as in “一个半小时” (one and a half hours).
Is “半” used in formal and informal speech?
Yes, “半” is common in both casual and formal contexts.
Can “半” be combined with measure words?
Yes, such as in “半杯水” (half a cup of water), where it modifies a noun via a measure word.
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