bàn

半

HSK 1Character · Numeral · Noun · Adjective · Adverb · Proper noun

half; middle; very little; incomplete

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

5 senses · 23 examples
1.

numeral

half; one half

Used before measure words when there is no integer, and after measure words when there is an integer.

Zhè这
gēn根
shéng绳
zi子
yǒu有
bàn半
chǐ尺
cháng长
 。

This rope is half a foot long.

Wǒ我
mǎi买
le了
yī一
jīn斤
bàn半
píng苹
guǒ果
 。

I bought one and a half catties of apples.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
jiā家
shāng商
diàn店
jīn今
tiān天
bàn半
jià价
cù促
xiāo销
 。

This store is having a half-price sale today.

Zhè这
ge个
xiàng项
mù目
yǐ已
jīng经
wán完
chéng成
le了
guò过
yī一
bàn半
 。

This project has been more than half completed.

Tā他
yǐ已
jīng经
lí离
kāi开
jiā家
xiāng乡
yī一
nián年
bàn半
le了
 。

He has been away from his hometown for a year and a half.

2.

noun

middle; midpoint

Used before nouns to indicate the middle part of a space, time or process.

Wǒ我
bàn半
yè夜
qǐ起
lái来
hē喝
shuǐ水
 。

I woke up to drink water at midnight.

Wǒ我
men们
zài在
bàn半
lù路
shang上
yù遇
dào到
le了
péng朋
yǒu友
 。

We met a friend halfway on the road.

Show 3 more examples
Nà那
zuò座
sì寺
miào庙
zài在
bàn半
shān山
yāo腰
shang上
 。

That temple is on the halfway up the mountain.

Tā他
yīn因
wéi为
shēng生
bìng病
bàn半
tú途
ér而
fèi废
le了
zhè这
chǎng场
bǐ比
sài赛
 。

He abandoned the game halfway due to illness.

Wǒ我
zài在
bàn半
tú途
zhōng中
xiǎng想
qǐ起
wàng忘
jì记
dài带
yào钥
shi匙
le了
 。

I remembered I forgot my keys halfway through the trip.

3.

adjective

very little; a tiny amount

Often used in fixed collocations to emphasize a small quantity.

Tā他
zhǐ只
yǒu有
yī一
xīng星
bàn半
diǎn点
de的
jīng经
yàn验
 。

He only has a tiny bit of experience.

Wǒ我
zhǐ只
zhī知
dào道
yī一
lín鳞
bàn半
zhǎo爪
de的
xìn信
xī息
 。

I only know a few scraps of information.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
lián连
bàn半
diǎn点
xìn信
xīn心
dōu都
méi没
yǒu有
 。

He doesn't have any confidence at all.

Zhè这
běn本
shū书
lǐ里
zhǐ只
yǒu有
bàn半
xīng星
diǎnr点
yǒu儿
yòng有
de用
nèi的
róng内
 容
 。

There is only a tiny bit of useful content in this book.

Tā他
duì对
zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
zhǐ只
yǒu有
bàn半
diǎnr点
liǎo儿
jiě了
 解
 。

He only has a little bit of understanding of this matter.

4.

adverb

incomplete; partially

Used before adjectives or verbs to describe something that is not fully completed or in its original state.

Zhè这
shì是
yī一
liàng辆
bàn半
xīn新
de的
èr二
shǒu手
chē车
 。

This is a used car that is half new.

Fáng房
mén门
bàn半
kāi开
zhe着
 ,
wǒ我
néng能
tīng听
dào到
lǐ里
miàn面
de的
shēng声
yīn音
 。

The door is half open, and I can hear the voice inside.

Show 3 more examples
Tā他
zhǐ只
wán完
chéng成
le了
bàn半
bù部
fen分
zuò作
yè业
 。

He only finished half of his homework.

Zhè这
ge个
bēi杯
zi子
bàn半
mǎn满
zhe着
shuǐ水
 。

This cup is half full of water.

Tā她
bàn半
tǎng躺
zhe着
kào靠
zài在
shā沙
fā发
shang上
xiū休
xi息
 。

She was half lying on the sofa to rest.

5.

proper noun

surname Ban

Used as a family name in Chinese culture.

Bàn半
xiān先
sheng生
shì是
wǒ我
men们
de的
xīn新
lín邻
jū居
 。

Mr. Ban is our new neighbor.

Wǒ我
yǒu有
yī一
gè个
tóng同
shì事
xìng姓
bàn半
 。

I have a colleague whose surname is Ban.

Show 1 more example
Bǎi百
jiā家
xìng姓
lǐ里
yǒu有
bàn半
zhè这
ge个
xìng姓
shì氏
ma吗
 ?

Is the surname Ban included in the Hundred Family Surnames?