过半

• Pinyin: guò bàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 过 = 辶 (walking radical) + 咼 (phonetic component) — to go past; 半 = 八 (divide) + 牛 (cow) — half of a divided animal

Meaning

To exceed half; more than half of a total amount, number, or proportion.

Used to describe situations where a majority threshold has been surpassed, such as in voting, statistics, or time elapsed. In legislative contexts it often indicates a simple majority. Common in political reporting, statistical analysis, and everyday discussion of proportions.

Examples

1. 调查显示，受访者中过半数认为目前的教育资源分配不够公平。 The survey shows that more than half of respondents believe the current distribution of educational resources is unfair.
2. 会议进行至过半时，主持人宣布进入提问环节。 Once the meeting was more than halfway through, the host announced that they would move on to the Q&A session.
3. 该议案在表决中以过半票数获得通过。 The proposal passed the vote with more than half of the ballots in favor.

Usage Guide

Context: statistics, politics, voting, time management

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 本次选举中，过半选民投票支持了现任候选人。(In this election, more than half of voters cast ballots in support of the incumbent candidate.)
• 项目完成度已过半，预计可提前完工。(The project is more than halfway complete and is expected to finish ahead of schedule.)

Don't Say

• 我的工作过半了 — in casual speech say 我的工作完成了一半多 or 超过一半了; 过半 fits formal statistical or political usage better

Origin & History

过 (to pass, exceed) + 半 (half)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal