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多半 (duō bàn) — (numeral) most, the greater part; (adverb) most likely, probably

Definition

多半 as a numeral means 'most / the greater part' (similar to 大多 but more common in speech); as an adverb it means 'most likely, probably', close to 大概 and 八成 but less colloquial than 八成.

numeral
mostthe greater part
adverb
most likelyprobably

Examples

  • 多半。
    Bān shàng duō bàn de tóng xué dōu qù le.
    Most of the classmates in the class went.
  • 多半。
    Tā duō bàn yǐ jīng zǒu le.
    He has most likely already left.
  • 多半。
    Zhè jiàn shì duō bàn shì zhēn de.
    This matter is most likely true.

Origin

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.

多duōmore
半bànhalf

「多」 gives 'more', 「半」 gives 'half', so 「多半」 means 'more than half', hence most or probably.

Characters in this word

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

多 originally showed two pieces of meat placed together; the repeated meat shape gives the sense of many.

Open 多 →

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.

Open 半 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Quantity & Amount

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