English–Japanese

“half” in Japanese

Japanese

Also半分 (hanbun) · 半数 (hansū) · ハーフ (hāfu)

Pronunciation

Romajihan

Example

三時半です。san ji han de su

It is half past three.

Illustration for 半 (half)

How to say “half” in Japanese

“Half” in Japanese is 半 (han).

It centers on dividing a whole, quantity, or time span into two equal parts and taking one.

Full entry for 半: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with 半

今は三時半です。ima wa san ji han de su

It is half past three.

宿題に二時間半かかりました。shuku dai ni ni ji kan han ka ka ri ma shi ta

It took me two and a half hours to finish my homework.

Tips for using 半

  • Japanese uses 半 (han) after a time unit in expressions such as 三時間半 (sanjikanhan), meaning three and a half hours.

Other Japanese words for “half”

ケーキを半分食べました。kē ki o han bun ta be ma shi ta

I ate half of the cake.

クラスの半数が手を挙げました。ku ra su no han sū ga te o a ge ma shi ta

Half the class raised their hands.

ピザはハーフでお願いします。pi za wa hā fu de o nega i shi ma su

I would like a half portion of the pizza, please.

“half” in other languages