half
[hˈæf] /hˈæf/ (ame, ipa) · /hˈɑːf/ (bre, ipa)
half — 名詞
1. one of two identical pieces that together constitute a whole item or amount
一半
構成整體的兩個相等部分中的一個
one of two identical pieces that together constitute a whole item or amount
The students ate half of the pizza while waiting for the teacher to arrive.
學生們在等老師抵達時吃了披薩的一半。
half of + noun for an equal part
Apinya carefully cut the birthday cake and gave me half.
Apinya 小心地切開生日蛋糕，分了一半給我。
Please pour half of the water into the metal bowl before mixing the flour in slowly.
在慢慢混入麵粉之前，請把一半的水倒入金屬碗中。
Liam saved half the pie for his sister after dinner.
Liam 晚飯後把半個派留給妹妹。
文法句型
half of something
the half of something
用法筆記
When using 'half of', the verb usually agrees with the noun following the preposition.
常見錯誤
Confusing 'half of the' with 'the half of'. Often, 'the' is only needed when referring back to a specific half.
2. a reference to the point in time that is exactly thirty minutes following a spec
半點
指整點過後三十分鐘的時刻
a reference to the point in time that is exactly thirty minutes following a specific hour
The train usually departs from the station at exactly half past eight every single weekday morning.
火車通常在每個工作日的上午八點半準時從車站出發。
time expression: half past + hour
We scheduled our weekly meeting for half past three to accommodate the team members in London.
我們把每週會議安排在三點半，以配合倫敦團隊成員的時間。
I will wait for you at the library entrance until half past six this coming Friday night.
這個週五晚上，我會在六點半之前一直等你在圖書館門口。
The film starts at half past one, so don't be late.
電影一點半開始，所以別遲到。
文法句型
half past [time]
用法筆記
Only used to refer to the 30-minute mark; not used for other fractions of an hour.
常見錯誤
Saying 'half past two-thirty' which is redundant.
3. either of the two distinct time segments used to structure the duration of a com
半場
競技比賽中分為兩個時間段的其中一段
either of the two distinct time segments used to structure the duration of a competitive match
The visiting team managed to score a goal during the final minute of the first half.
客隊在上半場的最後一分鐘設法進了一球。
first half / second half in sports
After a very intense second half, the championship game ended in a frustrating goalless draw.
在激烈的下半場之後，冠軍賽以令人沮喪的零比零平手告終。
Hao left the first half after hurting his ankle.
Hao 扭傷腳踝後在上半場就退場了。
Home fans sang loudly through the second half.
主場球迷在下半場一直大聲唱歌。
- interval
used in theater or general events
文法句型
first half
second half
用法筆記
Commonly used in sports like soccer or rugby. Use 'period' or 'quarter' for other sports.
常見錯誤
Using 'half' for games with four quarters, such as basketball.
4. a state of being incomplete or done in a manner that lacks full commitment or ex
不徹底
做事不盡力或僅完成部分的狀態
a state of being incomplete or done in a manner that lacks full commitment or extent
Diya never does things by halves on school projects.
Diya 做學校專題時從不敷衍了事。
idiom: do things by halves
Adisa thought the delay was bad, but that wasn't the half of it.
Adisa 以為延誤已經很糟，但那還不是全部。
The report was finished in a hurry and done by halves, leaving out several crucial financial details.
這份報告倉促完成且做得很不徹底，遺漏了幾個關鍵的財務細節。
Mina never does anything by halves when planning a school fair.
Mina 籌辦學園義賣時從不隨便應付。
文法句型
do things by halves
not the half of it
用法筆記
Idiomatic usage; often follows specific fixed phrase structures.
常見錯誤
Trying to use 'half' as a direct synonym for 'incomplete' in formal writing.
5. a significant or large proportion of a total duration or quantity
大部分時間
指佔據總時間或總量中很大的一部分
a significant or large proportion of a total duration or quantity
Asher spends half the time fixing problems he caused.
Asher 花了一大半時間在收拾自己造成的問題。
half the time for frequent occurrence
I lose my keys at least half the time when I am rushing to leave for work.
當我趕著去上班時，至少有一半的時間會弄丟鑰匙。
Hannah spends half the time answering calls from home.
Hannah 有一大半時間都在家接電話。
We spend half the time fixing problems the app created.
我們有一大半時間都在修正那個 app 造成的問題。
- the majority
implies more than 50 percent
文法句型
half the time
用法筆記
Informal. It emphasizes that a large proportion of duration is spent doing something.
常見錯誤
Omitting 'the' before 'time'.
half — 形容詞
- halfpositive
- halfercomparative
- halfestsuperlative
1. representing one of two portions that are identical in size or capacity
二分之一的
表示兩個大小或容量相等的份量之一
representing one of two portions that are identical in size or capacity
Anya ordered a half sandwich and a bowl of soup.
Anya 點了半份三明治和一碗湯。
before units: half sandwich / half gallon
We need to purchase a half gallon of milk for the recipe we are cooking tonight.
我們需要買半加侖的牛奶來做今晚的食譜。
The store offers a half price discount on all winter items starting early next Monday morning.
這家店從下週一清晨開始，所有冬季商品皆享有半價優惠。
The cafe offered half portions for children at lunchtime.
那家咖啡館午餐時提供給兒童半份餐。
文法句型
half [noun]
用法筆記
Used as a pre-modifier before a noun.
常見錯誤
Using 'halved' instead of 'half' when acting as a pre-modifier adjective.
2. possessing only a portion of the expected characteristics or completeness
未完成的
僅具有預期特徵或完整性的一部分
possessing only a portion of the expected characteristics or completeness
I found a half finished book on the table that I started reading several months ago.
我在桌上發現了一本幾個月前開始讀的未讀完的書。
before participle: half finished
There was a half eaten apple sitting on the desk when I returned to my classroom.
當我回到教室時，桌上放著一個吃了一半的蘋果。
The construction project remains a half completed structure due to unexpected shortages in building supplies this year.
由於今年建材意外短缺，該建築項目仍然是個未完工的結構。
A half finished scarf still hung beside the knitting chair.
一條只織到一半的圍巾還掛在編織椅旁。
用法筆記
Often combined with past participles to create compound adjectives.
常見錯誤
Using 'half' as an adverb here without a hyphen, though usage is acceptable in informal contexts.
3. roughly equivalent to the midpoint of a numerical or physical total
大約一半
大約相當於數值或物理總量的中點
roughly equivalent to the midpoint of a numerical or physical total
Kian finished half the race before his ankle gave out.
Kian 跑完一半賽程後腳踝就撐不住了。
half + measure of time or distance
After a half hour wait, the receptionist finally called our name for the scheduled doctor's appointment.
經過半小時的等待，接待員終於喊了我們的名字去赴約。
We planned a half day trip to the mountain lake.
我們安排了半天的山湖小旅行。
The hike took half a day because the trail was muddy.
因為步道泥濘，那段健行花了半天。
用法筆記
Used to denote an approximate unit of time or measurement.
常見錯誤
Confusing the exact meaning of 'half' with the approximate sense in measurement contexts.
4. describing siblings who share only one biological father or mother
同父/母的
只和對方共用一位父母
describing siblings who share only one biological father or mother
Elise has a half sister who teaches art in Paris.
Elise 有一位住在巴黎、教美術的同父或同母姊妹。
family term: half sister / half brother
Liam and Christopher grew up together, though they are half brothers.
Liam 和 Christopher 一起長大，雖然他們是同父或同母兄弟。
Joao recently met a half sister through his father.
Joao 最近透過父親認識了一位同父或同母姊妹。
Nora and Mia share a father, so they are half sisters.
Nora 和 Mia 只共用一位父母，所以是同父或同母的姊妹。
用法筆記
Specific term used in family relationships to indicate a single shared parent.
常見錯誤
Using 'half-sibling' incorrectly in contexts involving adoption.
half — 副詞
1. to a degree that is less than entirely, often implying the midway point
部分地
程度不到完全，通常暗示中間點
to a degree that is less than entirely, often implying the midway point
I half expected him to apologize after our argument this afternoon.
今天下午吵完架後，我原本有點以為他會道歉。
half + adjective or participle
The crowd felt half convinced the band would cancel.
大家半信半疑地覺得那個樂團會取消演出。
The toddler was half asleep on the sofa after playing outside in the garden all day.
那幼童在花園玩了一整天後，在沙發上睡得迷迷糊糊。
The baby was half awake when the phone rang.
電話響起時，寶寶還半睡半醒。
文法句型
half + [adjective/past participle]
用法筆記
Used to modify adjectives or participles indicating a partial state.
常見錯誤
Using 'halfly' which is not a word.
2. in a way that distributes quantity into two balanced portions
各半地
一半是某物，另一半是另一物
in a way that distributes quantity into two balanced portions
The drink was mixed half orange juice and half sparkling water to make it taste lighter.
這杯飲料混合了一半的柳橙汁和一半的氣泡水，喝起來更清爽。
half X and half Y
We painted the living room walls half white and half grey to create a modern aesthetic.
我們把客廳牆面漆成一半白色和一半灰色，以創造現代感。
The dessert was half chocolate cake and half creamy strawberry mousse, served on a large platter.
這份甜點由一半巧克力蛋糕和一半草莓慕斯組成，裝在大盤子裡上桌。
The flag was painted half blue and half white.
旗子被漆成一半藍色、一半白色。
文法句型
half [X] and half [Y]
用法筆記
Used in the 'half X and half Y' pattern to describe proportional composition.
常見錯誤
Forgetting to include the conjunction 'and' between the two parts.
3. used for emphasis to express that something is not at all the case
一點也不
用在否定句中，加強完全不是
used for emphasis to express that something is not at all the case
The soup was not half bad for a first attempt.
這碗湯對第一次做的人來說一點也不差。
negative phrase: not half as + adjective
The new manager is not half as strict as everyone feared.
新經理完全沒有大家想的那麼嚴格。
The choir sounded not half bad after one rehearsal.
合唱團只排練一次後，聽起來其實相當不錯。
The test was not half as hard as we expected.
這場測驗根本沒有我們想像中那麼難。
文法句型
not half + [adjective]
用法筆記
Mainly British English, used in negative contexts for ironic or emphatic effect.
常見錯誤
Using this structure in formal professional writing.