Difference between revisions of "Expressing "half" with "ban""
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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. | 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 ==== | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
=== With a Number === | === With a Number === | ||
| − | When it's more than just a half, then 半 (bàn) comes after the [[measure word]] | + | 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 ==== | ||
| Line 48: | Line 57: | ||
* 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> | * 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> | * 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="pinyin">yī <strong>jīn</strong> <em>bàn</em> shuǐguǒ </span><span class="trans">one and a half | + | * 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> | * 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> | * 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> | ||
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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 + | + | 半 + 天 / 年 |
</div> | </div> | ||
| Line 71: | Line 80: | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *<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>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="pinyin"> <em>bàn</em> <strong>nián</strong></span><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"> | ||
| Line 82: | Line 91: | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<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> 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="pinyin"><em>bàn</em> <strong>gè</strong> nián</span> <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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[[Category:A2 grammar points]] | [[Category:A2 grammar points]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|半|A2|Number + Measure Word + 半 + | + | {{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
