ChiramiN5 kanji · 5 strokes
半 means half
半
丷 split apart · 二 two · 丨 a cut down the middle
半Memory trick
Split apart, then cut straight down the middle: half.
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- half, middle, odd number, semi-
- JLPT level
- N5
- Strokes
- 5
- School grade
- Grade 2 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) なかば nakaba
なかば (nakaba) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
From Chinese (onyomi) ハン han
ハン (han) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
半分 はんぶん · hanbun
half
Built from
- 二 two
- 十 ten
- 丨 a line
- 丷 split apart
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
丷 Used in 140 kanji
See all 17 at N5 and N4Quick check
What does 半 mean?
Right: 半 means half.Not quite: 半 means half.In 半分, which reading does 半 use?
Right. 半分 is read はんぶん (hanbun): 半 takes ハン, its reading from Chinese.Not quite. 半分 is read はんぶん (hanbun): 半 takes ハン, its reading from Chinese.