in half
in half — 慣用語
1. to cut, break, fold, or separate a physical object so that it becomes two pieces
分成兩半
將物體切、折、分為相同大小的兩部分
to cut, break, fold, or separate a physical object so that it becomes two pieces of the same size
Erik folded the paper in half and slipped it into his pocket.
Erik 將紙對折成兩半，然後塞進口袋裡。
fold + in half for dividing paper or fabric
Lara broke the chocolate bar in half so both children could have a piece.
Lara 把巧克力棒剝成兩半，這樣兩個孩子都能分到一塊。
The wooden shelf split in half when Kian placed the heavy books on it.
Kian 把厚重的書放上去時，木製書架裂成了兩半。
Mayumi tore the letter in half and threw both pieces into the bin.
Mayumi 把信撕成兩半，然後將兩片紙都丟進垃圾桶。
Obi cut the old rope in half with a sharp kitchen knife.
Obi 用一把鋒利的廚刀把舊繩子切成兩半。
文法句型
cut / fold / break / tear / split / snap something in half
常見錯誤
2. to reduce the amount, cost, or number of something by 50 percent
減少一半
將數量、金額、時間等減為原本的50%
to reduce the amount, cost, or number of something by 50 percent
The supermarket cut its prices in half for the end-of-season sale.
這家超市在季末大促時將價格砍了一半。
cut + in half for price reduction
Hannah cut her weekly coffee spending in half to save for a holiday.
Hannah 為了存錢度假，把每週的咖啡開銷砍掉了一半。
After the new highway opened, travel time to the airport was cut in half.
新的高速公路通車後，前往機場的行車時間縮短了一半。
The factory slashed its waste output in half by using recycled materials.
這間工廠透過使用回收材料，將廢棄物排放量削減了一半。
Kabir saw his electricity bill cut in half after installing solar panels.
Kabir 安裝太陽能板之後，發現電費帳單砍掉了一半。
- by half
also correct but more common in British English than American English
- by 50 percent
more formal, used in business and academic contexts
- double
increase to twice the original amount
文法句型
cut / reduce / slash / trim something in half
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used with verbs that mean 'reduce' — cut, reduce, slash, trim. It does not describe physical division; for cutting a physical object into two pieces, see sense 1.
常見錯誤
3. in or into two parts that are the same size or almost the same size
均分為二
分成相等或幾乎相等的兩部分
in or into two parts that are the same size or almost the same size
The teacher divided the class in half for the group discussion activity.
老師把全班分成兩組進行小組討論活動。
divide + in half for splitting groups equally
Aoi split the prize money in half with her research partner.
Aoi 跟研究夥伴把獎金平分為二。
The river divides the small town in half, with a bridge connecting both sides.
這條河將小鎮一分為二，中間有座橋連接兩邊。
The charity split the donations in half between a local shelter and a disaster relief fund.
這間慈善機構把捐款平分為二，一半給當地收容所，一半給災難救助基金。
Abigail split the pizza in half with her brother, giving him the larger slice because it was his birthday.
Abigail 跟弟弟平分了披薩，因為是弟弟生日，所以給了他比較大的一片。
- into two equal parts
more explicit about the equality of the parts
文法句型
divide / share / split something in half
be in half
用法筆記
This sense describes the resulting state or arrangement of something being in two equal parts. Sense 1 emphasises the action of physically cutting or breaking, while this sense focuses on the equal distribution or layout.