Japanese word

半端

Pronunciation

Romajihanpa

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveincomplete

Example

この仕事はまだ半端なままです。ko no shi goto wa ma da han pa na ma ma de su

This work is still incomplete.

Illustration for 半端 (incomplete)

More examples

必要な部分を省くと、説明が半端になります。hitsu yō na bu bun o habu ku to setsu mei ga han pa ni na ri ma su

If you leave out necessary parts, the explanation becomes incomplete.

Core concept

Describes something that falls short of being whole, finished, or fully formed.

Common phrases

  • 半端な知識han pa na chi shiki

    incomplete knowledge

  • 半端な仕事han pa na shi goto

    incomplete work

Similar words

中途半端chūtohanpa: Describes something that is only partly done or lacks a definite form or direction.
不完全fukanzen: Describes something that lacks one or more parts or qualities needed for completeness.
未完成mikansei: Describes something that has not yet been finished or brought to its final form.

Definition in Japanese

完全にそろっていない、または最後まで仕上がっていない状態。kan zen ni so ro tte i na i ma ta wa sai go ma de shi a ga tte i na i jō tai

Word origin

The compound 半端 (hanpa) combines 半 (han, "half") and 端 (pa, "edge or end"), expressing something that does not reach a complete whole.

Usage tips

  • In casual Japanese, 半端ない (hanpa nai) commonly means "extraordinary" or "intense," so the phrase has a stronger meaning than simply "not incomplete."

Other meanings

  • fragmentnoun
  • leftovernoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 半端さhanpasaincompletenessnoun

Word lists with this word