Usage of 半 (bàn)
The character 半 primarily means "half" and is used to indicate a portion that is 50% of a whole. It can describe quantities, time, or progress.
Common contexts
- Quantities: 半个苹果 (half an apple), 半瓶水 (half a bottle of water).
- Time: 三点半 (3:30), 半个小时 (half an hour).
- Progress: 工作完成了一半 (half of the work is done).
Collocations and patterns
- 半个 + noun: to express half of something countable.
- 一半: often used after a noun to indicate half of it.
- Time expressions: used after numbers to indicate half past the hour.
Notes
When using 半 with time, it usually follows the hour (e.g., 三点半). When expressing half of an object, 半个 is common for countable nouns. 半 can also imply "partially" or "incomplete" in some contexts, such as 半路 (halfway).
Avoid confusing 半 with other fraction words like 一半, which is more formal and often used after the noun.