TongTong
Sign in

半 (bàn) — half; (used before a measure word or number) half of; (after a number) and a half; (adverb) half, partially

Definition

Half prefix used before a measure word (半个苹果 'half an apple') or after a number (一个半 'one and a half'). Compare with 一半, the standalone noun meaning 'half of something'.

numeral
half(used before a measure word or number) half of(after a number) and a half
adverb
halfpartially
Easily confused

Examples

  • 半。
    Wǒ chī le bàn gè píng guǒ.
    I ate half an apple.
  • 。
    Wǒ men děng le bàn tiān.
    We waited for half a day.
  • 半。
    Mén bàn kāi.
    The door is half open.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

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.

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 1HSK 2.0 Level 31000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsNumbers & Counting2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 1 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.