半个小时 · 一个半小时 · 半年
half an hour, an hour and a half, half a year
Structure
半 + 量词 + 名词 · 数词 + 量词 + 半 + 名词
What it means
半 means half. Before the measure word it is “half a …”; after the measure word it is “… and a half”.
How it is built
半 + measure word + noun: 半个小时 (half an hour). Number + measure word + 半 + noun: 一个半小时 (1½ hours). 年 and 天 take no measure word: 半年, 一年半, 两天半.
When to use it
You will also hear 半小时 and 两小时 without 个. For half of a group or a thing, use 一半: 一半的学生 (half the students).
Watch out
✗ 一个小时半 ✓ 一个半小时. ✗ 一半小时 ✓ 一个半小时 (1½ hours). For “… and a half”, 半 goes right after the measure word; for “half a …”, before it: 半个小时.
Examples
半个小时是三十分钟。
Half an hour is thirty minutes.
我们学习了两个半小时。
We studied for two and a half hours.
他来中国两年半了。
He’s been in China for two and a half years.
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 9: 现在几点 (Telling the time)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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