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March 24, 2026
半bàn(ban4)
The character 半 (bàn) means 'half' or 'semi-' and is commonly used to indicate a division of something into two equal parts or to describe something that is incomplete. It is frequently encountered in numerical contexts, such as 'one and a half' (一半, yī bàn) or when discussing time, like 'half past' (半点, bàn diǎn).
Strokes5Radical十Frequency#612DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of half can be significant, especially in discussions about food portions and family gatherings, where sharing and dividing food is common. For example, a 'half cup' of tea is often used to symbolize hospitality.
Memory Tip
Imagine a half pizza cut down the middle; that's 半 (bàn). The left part of the character looks like a slice (the upper part), while the bottom represents the whole pizza. This visual can help you remember that 半 means 'half'—you only have half of the pizza!
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AI Study Notes for 半
Quick Contrast
半 (bàn) vs 一半 (yī bàn): use 半 for 'half' in general terms, while 一半 specifically means 'one half'.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a half pizza cut down the middle; that's 半 (bàn). The left part of the character looks like a slice (the upper part), while the bottom represents the whole pizza. This visual can help you remember that 半 means 'half'—you only have half of the pizza!
Usage Notes
When using 半, be careful to place it correctly in phrases, as it typically follows numbers or other quantifiers. It is generally informal but can also be used in writing and conversation without sounding overly casual. A common mistake is forgetting that 半 should be used with numerals like 'three and a half' (三点五, sān diǎn wǔ) rather than just 'three'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 半 connects well with other numerical concepts and time indicators. Students should focus on using it with numbers and in expressions of time, as it frequently appears in everyday conversation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of half can be significant, especially in discussions about food portions and family gatherings, where sharing and dividing food is common. For example, a 'half cup' of tea is often used to symbolize hospitality.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 半 before numbers instead of after. For example, saying '半三' instead of '三半' is incorrect; the correct form is 三半 (sān bàn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 半
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Grammar Patterns of 半
半 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Nearly half of mothers with children under five have a job.
10
上半场以21：3领先的法国队有8个达阵得分。
shàng bàn cháng yǐ21：3 21：3 lǐng xiān de fǎ guó duì8 yǒu 8 gè dá zhèn。
The French, who led 21-3 at half time, scored eight tries.
Cultural Notes for 半
💡Did you know?
The character '半' is often used in everyday life, especially in cooking and measuring. For instance, if a recipe calls for half a cup of sugar, you would use '半杯糖'.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of half can be significant, especially in discussions about food portions and family gatherings, where sharing and dividing food is common. For example, a 'half cup' of tea is often used to symbolize hospitality.
Word Family of 半
Compounds23
判pan4to judge
伴ban4partner
叛pan4to betray
胖pan2healthy
绊ban4a loop of thread; shackles, fetters; to stumble, to trip
拌ban4to mix
衅xin4quarrel
畔pan4edge
泮pan4Zhou dynasty school; to disperse, to fall apart
姅
柈
秚
袢pan4robe
詊
冸
坢
怑
牉
眫
絆ban4a loop of thread; shackles, fetters; to stumble, to trip
跘
鉡
靽
Words Containing This Character20
半bànhalf
一半yíbànhalf
半年bànniánhalf a year
半夜bànyèmidnight
半场bànchǎnghalf-court半場
半个half of sth半個
上半年first half (of a year)
半天bàntiānhalf of the day
半决赛bànjuésàisemifinals半決賽
大半most
多半duōbànmost
半辈子half of a lifetime半輩子
半数bànshùhalf半數
半点the least bit半點
半岛bàndǎopeninsula半島
半径radius半徑
半死(tired) to death
半路bànlùhalfway
半月half-moon
半生half a lifetime
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 判 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 半
半 (bàn) refers to 'half' in a general sense, while 一半 (yī bàn) specifically means 'one half' and emphasizes the concept of 'one'. They can often be used interchangeably, but 一半 may be preferred for clarity in certain contexts.
Yes, 半 (bàn) can be used with numbers to indicate 'and a half.' For example, '三点半' means 'three and a half o'clock.' This usage is common in both time and measurements.
半 (bàn) means 'half' or 'semi-' in Chinese. It is used to indicate a division of something into two equal parts or to describe something that is not complete. For example, '半个' means 'half of' something.
You can use 半 (bàn) in sentences to express quantities, such as '我吃了一半的蛋糕' which means 'I ate half of the cake.' It can also be used to describe time, like '半小时' meaning 'half an hour.'
You place 半 after the number to indicate 'and a half', such as 三半 (sān bàn) for 'three and a half'.
Yes, 半 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing measurements or time.
It primarily means 'half', but it can also imply something incomplete or partially done.
