Difference between revisions of "Expressing "half" with "ban""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | 半 (bàn) means "half." That's simple enough, but what can get slightly tricky is the rules for how it combines with [[measure word]]s | + | The Chinese word 半 (bàn) means "half." That's simple enough, but what can get slightly tricky is the rules for how it combines with [[measure word]]s. |
| − | == | + | == Basic Usage == |
| − | === Used | + | === Used Alone === |
==== Structure ==== | ==== Structure ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | You'll need to use a [[measure word]] (Measure Word) in this structure. | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
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* <em>半</em> <strong>个</strong> 小时 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>gè</strong> xiǎoshí</span><span class="trans">half an hour</span> | * <em>半</em> <strong>个</strong> 小时 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>gè</strong> xiǎoshí</span><span class="trans">half an hour</span> | ||
* <em>半</em> <strong>个</strong> 月 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>gè</strong> yuè</span><span class="trans">half a month</span> | * <em>半</em> <strong>个</strong> 月 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>gè</strong> yuè</span><span class="trans">half a month</span> | ||
| − | |||
* <em>半</em> <strong>碗</strong> 米饭 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>wǎn</strong> mǐfàn</span><span class="trans">half a bowl of rice</span> | * <em>半</em> <strong>碗</strong> 米饭 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>wǎn</strong> mǐfàn</span><span class="trans">half a bowl of rice</span> | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
* <em>半</em> <strong>瓶</strong> 酒 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>píng</strong> jiǔ</span><span class="trans">half a bottle of liquor</span> | * <em>半</em> <strong>瓶</strong> 酒 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>píng</strong> jiǔ</span><span class="trans">half a bottle of liquor</span> | ||
| − | * <em>半</em> <strong>份</strong> 炒面 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>fèn</strong> chǎomiàn</span><span class="trans"> </span> | + | * <em>半</em> <strong>份</strong> 炒面 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>fèn</strong> chǎomiàn</span><span class="trans">half a serving of chow mein</span> |
| − | + | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
=== With a Number === | === With a Number === | ||
| − | When it's more than just a half, then 半 (bàn) comes after the [[measure word]] instead of before. It's the difference between "half an hour" and "an hour and a half." The order is actually basically the same as what we do in English (we just don't have so many pesky measure words to keep track of in English!). | + | When it's more than just a half, then 半 (bàn) comes after the [[measure word]] instead of before. It's the difference between "half an hour" and "an hour and a half." |
| + | |||
| + | <div class="liju"> | ||
| + | |||
| + | * <em>半</em> <strong>个</strong> 小时 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>gè</strong> xiǎoshí</span><span class="trans">half an hour</span> | ||
| + | * 一 <strong>个</strong> <em>半</em> 小时 <span class="pinyin">yī <strong>gè</strong> <em>bàn</em> xiǎoshí</span><span class="trans">an hour and a half</span> | ||
| + | |||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | The order is actually basically the same as what we do in English (we just don't have so many pesky measure words to keep track of in English!). | ||
==== Structure ==== | ==== Structure ==== | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | * 三 <strong>个</strong> <em>半</em> 小时 <span class="pinyin">sān <strong>gè</strong> <em>bàn</em> xiǎoshí</span><span class="trans">three and a half hours</span> |
| − | + | * 两 <strong>个</strong> <em>半</em> 月 <span class="pinyin">liǎng <strong>gè</strong> <em>bàn</em> yuè</span><span class="trans">two and a half months</span> | |
| − | * | + | * 一 <strong>斤</strong> <em>半</em> 水果 <span class="expl">One "jin" = 500g</span><span class="pinyin">yī <strong>jīn</strong> <em>bàn</em> shuǐguǒ </span><span class="trans">one and a half jin of fruit</span> |
| − | + | * 一 <strong>瓶</strong> <em>半</em> 白酒 <span class="pinyin">yī <strong>píng</strong> <em>bàn</em> báijiǔ </span><span class="trans">one and a half bottles of wine</span> | |
| − | * | + | * 四<strong>块</strong> <em>半</em> 巧克力 <span class="pinyin">sì <strong> kuài</strong> <em>bàn</em> qiǎokèlì </span><span class="trans">four and a half pieces of chocolate</span> |
| − | |||
| − | * | ||
| − | |||
| − | * | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
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There are some words that act as their own measure words, notably the time words 天 (tiān), meaning "day," and 年 (nián), meaning "year." | There are some words that act as their own measure words, notably the time words 天 (tiān), meaning "day," and 年 (nián), meaning "year." | ||
| − | === Used | + | === Used Alone === |
==== Structure ==== | ==== Structure ==== | ||
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<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | 半 + 天/年 | + | 半 + 天 / 年 |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *<em>半</em> <strong>天</strong> <span class="trans">half a day</span> | + | *<em>半</em> <strong>天</strong><span class="pinyin"> <em>bàn</em> <strong>tiān</strong></span><span class="trans">half a day</span> |
| − | *<em>半</em> <strong>年</strong> <span class="trans">half a year</span> | + | *<em>半</em> <strong>年</strong><span class="pinyin"> <em>bàn</em> <strong>nián</strong></span><span class="trans">half a year</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Note that you do ''not'' need to use 个 ( | + | Note that you do ''not'' need to use 个 (gè) here; in fact, it's ''wrong'' to do so: |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li class="x"><em>半</em> <strong>个</strong> 天 <span class="trans">half a day</span></li> | + | <li class="x"><em>半</em> <strong>个</strong> 天 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>gè</strong> tiān</span><span class="trans">half a day</span></li> |
| − | <li class="x"><em>半</em> <strong>个</strong> 年 <span class="trans">half a year</span></li> | + | <li class="x"><em>半</em> <strong>个</strong> 年 <span class="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>gè</strong> nián</span><span class="trans">half a year</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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=== With a Number === | === With a Number === | ||
| + | |||
| + | 天 (tiān) and 年 (nián) aren't the ''only'' words that take this alternate pattern, but they're the two key ones you need to learn first. | ||
==== Structure ==== | ==== Structure ==== | ||
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<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Number + 天/年 + 半 | + | Number + 天 / 年 + 半 |
</div> | </div> | ||
| Line 109: | Line 112: | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 两 <strong>天</strong> <em>半</em> <span class="trans">two and a half days</span> | + | * 两 <strong>天</strong> <em>半</em> <span class="pinyin">liǎng <strong>tiān</strong> <em>bàn</em></span><span class="trans">two and a half days</span> |
| − | * 一 <strong>年</strong> <em>半</em> <span class="trans">a year and a half</span> | + | * 一 <strong>年</strong> <em>半</em> <span class="pinyin">yī <strong>nián</strong> <em>bàn</em></span><span class="trans">a year and a half</span> |
| − | * 三 <strong>天</strong> <em>半</em> <span class="trans">three and a half days</span> | + | * 三 <strong>天</strong> <em>半</em> <span class="pinyin">sān <strong>tiān</strong> <em>bàn</em></span><span class="trans">three and a half days</span> |
| − | * 四 <strong>年</strong> <em>半</em> <span class="trans">four and a half years</span> | + | * 四 <strong>年</strong> <em>半</em> <span class="pinyin">sì <strong>nián</strong> <em>bàn</em></span><span class="trans">four and a half years</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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*[[Structure of times]] | *[[Structure of times]] | ||
| + | <!-- Comment out unused headings | ||
== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
=== Books === | === Books === | ||
| + | --> | ||
[[Category:A2 grammar points]] | [[Category:A2 grammar points]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|半|A2|Number + Measure | + | {{HSK|HSK3}} |
| + | {{Basic Grammar|半|A2|Number + Measure Word + 半 + Noun|三 个 <em>半</em> 小时|grammar point|ASGAC1P9}} | ||
{{Used for|Expressing quantity}} | {{Used for|Expressing quantity}} | ||
{{Structure|Numbers and Measure Words}} | {{Structure|Numbers and Measure Words}} | ||
Latest revision as of 09:08, 10 April 2019
The Chinese word 半 (bàn) means "half." That's simple enough, but what can get slightly tricky is the rules for how it combines with measure words.
Contents
Basic Usage
Used Alone
Structure
You'll need to use a measure word (Measure Word) in this structure.
半 + Measure Word + Noun
Examples
The measure words are also indicated below.
- 半 个 小时 half an hour
- 半 个 月 half a month
- 半 碗 米饭 half a bowl of rice
- 半 瓶 酒 half a bottle of liquor
- 半 份 炒面 half a serving of chow mein
With a Number
When it's more than just a half, then 半 (bàn) comes after the measure word instead of before. It's the difference between "half an hour" and "an hour and a half."
- 半 个 小时 half an hour
- 一 个 半 小时 an hour and a half
The order is actually basically the same as what we do in English (we just don't have so many pesky measure words to keep track of in English!).
Structure
Number + Measure Word + 半 + Noun
Examples
- 三 个 半 小时 three and a half hours
- 两 个 半 月 two and a half months
- 一 斤 半 水果 One "jin" = 500gone and a half jin of fruit
- 一 瓶 半 白酒 one and a half bottles of wine
- 四块 半 巧克力 four and a half pieces of chocolate
Notable Exceptions
There are some words that act as their own measure words, notably the time words 天 (tiān), meaning "day," and 年 (nián), meaning "year."
Used Alone
Structure
半 + 天 / 年
Examples
- 半 天half a day
- 半 年half a year
Note that you do not need to use 个 (gè) here; in fact, it's wrong to do so:
- 半 个 天 half a day
- 半 个 年 half a year
With a Number
天 (tiān) and 年 (nián) aren't the only words that take this alternate pattern, but they're the two key ones you need to learn first.
Structure
Number + 天 / 年 + 半
Examples
- 两 天 半 two and a half days
- 一 年 半 a year and a half
- 三 天 半 three and a half days
- 四 年 半 four and a half years
