半 bàn — half

Meanings

1. 1

   half

   Half of something. Before a measure word it means half a unit — 半个苹果, 半个小时. After a whole number and its measure word it adds a half on top — 一个半小时, an hour and a half.

   numeral
2. 2

   half past (in clock times)

   numeral

Example sentences

• 现在是三点半。/現在是三點半。Xiànzài (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) sān (first tone, high and level) diǎn (third tone, dipping) bàn. (fourth tone, falling)···

  It’s half past three.

• 我只吃了半个苹果。/我只吃了半個蘋果。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) zhǐ (third tone, dipping) chīle (first tone, high and level) bàn (fourth tone, falling) ge (neutral tone) píngguǒ. (second tone, rising)···

  I only ate half an apple.

Common mistakes

• Not quite现在是三半点。

  Correct现在是三点半。

  In a clock time 半 comes after 点, not before it: 三点半 is "three o’clock and a half".

• Not quite我看了一半个小时的书。

  Correct我看了一个半小时的书。

  Half an hour is 半个小时; an hour and a half is 一个半小时. When 半 adds to a whole number it goes after the measure word, not before it.

Similar words