Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
丷 + two + 丨
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of dividing an ox in two. Half of something.
Symbolism
Half, midway, part. Represents effort of 'not giving up halfway'.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一紙半銭
いっしはんせん
small sum; things of little value; small sum
一知半解
いっちはんかい
superficial knowledge; half knowledge; superficial knowledge
中途半端
ちゅうとはんぱ
halfway; half measures; unfinished; halfway
半官半民
はんかんはんみん
semi-governmental; semi-official; semi-governmental
半死半生
はんしはんしょう
all but dead; half killed; all but dead
半信半疑
はんしんはんぎ
half in doubt; half-convinced; dubious; half in doubt
半身不随
はんしんふずい
hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body); hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body)
一言半句
いちげんはんく
a single word; (not even) a word; (not even) a syllable; a single word
行動半径
こうどうはんけい
radius of action; combat radius; sphere of activity; radius of action
半知半解
はんちはんかい
superficial knowledge; half knowledge; superficial knowledge
冗談半分
じょうだんはんぶん
half joking; being (only) half serious; (in a) jocular vein; half joking
半睡半醒
はんすいはんせい
half asleep and half awake; half asleep and half awake
半醒半睡
はんせいはんすい
half awake and half asleep; half awake and half asleep
一文半銭
いちもんきなか
meagre sum of money; meagre sum of money
Poetry
めぐりあひて 見しやそれとも 分かぬまに 雲がくれにし 夜半の月かな
Poem #57 from Hyakunin Isshu
心にも あらでうき世に ながらへば 恋しかるべき 夜半の月かな
Poem #68 from Hyakunin Isshu
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 半 mean in Japanese?
半 means half, middle, odd number, semi-, part-.
How do you read 半?
On'yomi: ハン (HAN). Kun'yomi: なか.ば (nakaba).
How many strokes does 半 have?
半 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 十 (ten).
Is 半 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 半 (half, middle, odd number, semi-, part-) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for middle · kanji for semi- · kanji for part-