半 (bàn) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 半 (bàn) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 半 (bàn) means "half". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 5 strokes and the radical 十.

Q: How do you write 半 stroke by stroke?

半 has 5 strokes. The radical is 十. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 半 and 千?

半 (bàn) and 千 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 半?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 十. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 半?

Common words containing 半 include: 一半 (yí bàn) — one half; 半天 (bàn tiān) — half a day; a long time; 半年 (bàn nián) — half a year.

How to Write 半

The character 半 (bàn) is written with 5 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 十 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

半 is pronounced bàn in Mandarin Chinese. It means half.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 半 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 半

一半 yí bàn

one half

半天 bàn tiān

half a day; a long time

半年 bàn nián

half a year

Example Sentences

我吃了一半苹果。

wǒ chī le yí bàn píng guǒ

I ate half an apple.

他等了半天也没等到人。

tā děng le bàn tiān yě méi děng dào rén 。

He waited for a long time but didn't see anyone.

我学了半年汉语。

wǒ xué le bàn nián hàn yǔ

I studied Chinese for half a year.

Similar Characters

千 qiān

卄 niàn

卅 sà

Practice Writing 半 (bàn)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 半 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 半

What does 半 (bàn) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 半 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 半 and 千?

What mistakes do learners make writing 半?

What common words use 半?

How to Write 半 (bàn)