上半时 (shàng bàn shí) — first half (of a game or contest)

Definition

Refers specifically to the first half of a sports match or similar contest. Pairs naturally with 下半时 (second half).

noun

first half (of a game or contest)

Easily confused

上半时，。
shàng bàn shí Bǐ sài jié shù, bǐ fēn shì èr bǐ yī.
The first half of the match ended with a score of 2-1.
上半时。
Tā zài shàng bàn shí jìn le yí gè qiú.
He scored a goal in the first half.
上半时。
shàng bàn shí Liǎng duì dōu méi yǒu dé fēn.
Neither team scored in the first half.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

上半upper half

偏正Modifier + head

上 means upper or first, 半 means half, and 时 means time; together they name the first half of a game.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 八 (to divide) with 牛 (cow), showing a cow cut into two halves.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

日日rìsun; day

Sound part声符shēngfú

之

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.