半年

• Pinyin: bàn nián
• Hanzi breakdown: 半 (half) + 年 (year) — half of a year

Meaning

Half a year; six months. A common time expression for a period of approximately six months.

Used to describe durations or time spans of about six months. Often appears with 了 to indicate something that has lasted half a year (半年了). Can also be used for future plans (半年以后).

Examples

1. 我学中文学了半年了。 I've been studying Chinese for half a year.
2. 他半年没回家了。 He hasn't been home for half a year.
3. 半年以后我去北京。 I'm going to Beijing in half a year.

Usage Guide

Context: time, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我来中国半年了。(I've been in China for half a year.)
• 半年以后再说吧。(Let's talk about it in half a year.)

Don't Say

• 一个半年 instead of 半年 (Don't add 一个 before 半年 — just say 半年 directly)

Origin & History

A straightforward compound of 半 (half) and 年 (year), literally meaning 'half a year'.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal