Half
Half
On-yomi 🇨🇳:
ハン (han)
(Chinese-derived reading)
Half
Half

Pronunciation rules

  • ハン (han) is the on-yomi used in compounds like 半分 (はんぶん, hanbun: half) or 半年 (はんとし, hantoshi: half a year).
  • This kanji is primarily used with on-yomi readings in time and quantity expressions.
  • When used in time expressions like 四時半 (よじはん, yojihan: 4:30), it always uses the on-yomi reading.

Examples

On-yomiSino-Japanese Readings
はんぶん です
It's half.
Uses on-yomi ハン (han) in compound 半分
はんとし です
It's half a year.
Uses on-yomi ハン (han) in compound 半年
よじはん です
It's 4:30.
Uses on-yomi ハン (han) in time expression 四時半
はんにち です
It's half a day.
Uses on-yomi ハン (han) in compound 半日

Quick facts

  • Radical: 十 (ten)
  • Strokes: 5
  • Common compounds: 半分 (はんぶん, hanbun), 半年 (はんとし, hantoshi), 半日 (はんにち, hannichi), 四時半 (よじはん, yojihan)
  • ⚠️ Reading usage:
    • Always uses on-yomi: はん (han)
    • Time expressions: よじはん (yojihan) - 4:30
    • Quantity expressions: はんぶん (hanbun) - half

Key Words

半年 - half a year
半分 - half
四時半 - 4:30
半日 - half a day