Japanese word

前半

Pronunciation

Romajizenhan

Meaning

  • nounfirst half

Example

試合の前半は一対一でした。shi ai no zen han wa ichi tai ichi de shi ta

It was one to one in the first half of the game.

Illustration for 前半 (first half)

More examples

コンサートの前半は静かな曲が中心でした。ko n sā to no zen han wa shizu ka na kyoku ga chū shin de shi ta

The first half of the concert consisted mainly of quiet songs.

Core concept

Describes the part that comes first in a period or event split into two sections.

Common phrases

  • 試合の前半shi ai no zen han

    the first half of the game

  • 前半終了zen han shū ryō

    the end of the first half

Definition in Japanese

物事を二つの部分に分けた場合の、先に当たる半分。mono goto o futa tsu no bu bun ni wa ke ta ba ai no saki ni a ta ru han bun

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 前半 (zenhan) joins 前 (zen, "before") with 半 (han, "half") to mean the first section of a whole.

Usage tips

  • A match is commonly discussed as 前半 (zenhan) or 後半 (kōhan), which helps distinguish its two playing periods in everyday sports talk.

Opposites

Word lists with this word