半 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

半: half; middle; semi. JLPT N5; 5 strokes.

Readings

On readings

ハン

Kun readings

なか.ば

Romaji

han, nakaba

Study notes

半 means 'half'; with time expressions it indicates half past.

On reading: ハン in 半分 (はんぶん, half), 半年 (はんとし, six months), 半島 (はんとう, peninsula), 半額 (はんがく, half price), 前半 (ぜんはん, first half), 後半 (こうはん, second half). With time expressions: 三時半 (さんじはん, three thirty).

Kun reading: なかば (半ば, half, in the middle), more formal writing: 九月半ば (in the middle of September).

Remember: 半袖 (はんそで, short sleeves) opposes 長袖 (ながそで, long sleeves).

Example words

• 半分 (はんぶん) — half
• 三時半 (さんじはん) — three thirty
• 半ば (なかば) — middle; halfway

Example sentences

ケーキを半分食べました。

keeki wo hanbun tabemashita.

I ate half the cake.

Stroke order

Follow the steps in order. Each new stroke is highlighted.

Stroke paths: KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sequential diagrams derived from the original paths.