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对半 (duì bàn) — half-and-half; fifty-fifty; double (e.g., profit)

Definition

A noun meaning 'fifty-fifty' — splitting something into two equal halves, or doubling (e.g., profit). Used as 对半的 in attributive position, as in 对半的方案.

noun
half-and-halffifty-fiftydouble (e.g., profit)

Examples

  • 对半。
    Tā men tóng yì le duì duì bàn de fāng àn.
    They agreed to a fifty-fifty plan.
  • 对半。
    Zhè pī huò de lì rùn shì duì duì bàn de.
    The profit from this batch of goods is split fifty-fifty.
  • 对半。
    Wǒ men àn duì duì bàn de bǐ lì fēn pèi.
    We distribute according to a half-and-half ratio.

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.

对duìmatching or opposite
半bànhalf

'对' means matching or opposite and '半' means half, so matching halves.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 對; 对 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 對, the shape comes from an early drawing of 丵 (a digging tool), 土 (earth), and 又 (a hand); it may have meant developing land.

Open 对 →

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
Quantity & Amount

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