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The Chinese word 半 (bàn) means "half." That's simple enough, but what can get slightly tricky is the rules for how it combines with measure words.
Basic Usage
Used Alone
Structure
You'll need to use a measure word (Measure Word) in this structure.
半 + Measure Word + Noun
Examples
The measure words are also indicated below.
- 半 个 小时 bàn gè xiǎoshíhalf an hour
- 半 个 月 bàn gè yuèhalf a month
- 半 碗 米饭 bàn wǎn mǐfànhalf a bowl of rice
- 半 瓶 酒 bàn píng jiǔhalf a bottle of liquor
- 半 份 炒面 bàn fèn chǎomiànhalf a serving of chow mein
With a Number
When it's more than just a half, then 半 (bàn) comes after the measure word instead of before. It's the difference between "half an hour" and "an hour and a half."
- 半 个 小时 bàn gè xiǎoshíhalf an hour
- 一 个 半 小时 yī gè bàn xiǎoshían hour and a half
Structure
Number + Measure Word + 半 + Noun
Examples
- 三 个 半 小时 sān gè bàn xiǎoshíthree and a half hours
- 两 个 半 月 liǎng gè bàn yuètwo and a half months
- 一 斤 半 水果 One "jin" = 500gyī jīn bàn shuǐguǒ one and a half jin of fruit
- 一 瓶 半 白酒 yī píng bàn báijiǔ one and a half bottles of wine
- 四块 半 巧克力 sì kuài bàn qiǎokèlì four and a half pieces of chocolate
Notable Exceptions
There are some words that act as their own measure words, notably the time words 天 (tiān), meaning "day," and 年 (nián), meaning "year."
Used Alone
Structure
半 + 天 / 年
Examples
- 半 天 bàn tiānhalf a day
- 半 年 bàn niánhalf a year
- 半 个 天 bàn gè tiānhalf a day
- 半 个 年 bàn gè niánhalf a year
With a Number
天 (tiān) and 年 (nián) aren't the only words that take this alternate pattern, but they're the two key ones you need to learn first.
Structure
Number + 天 / 年 + 半
Examples
- 两 天 半 liǎng tiān bàntwo and a half days
- 一 年 半 yī nián bàna year and a half
- 三 天 半 sān tiān bànthree and a half days
- 四 年 半 sì nián bànfour and a half years