半年(はんとし)

はんとし
noun
half a year, six months
time-period
1. half a year, six months
A period of six months; half of one year.
日本(にほん)に来(き)て半年(はんとし)になる。
It's been half a year since I came to Japan.
I met my friend for the first time in half a year.
あと半年(はんとし)で卒業(そつぎょう)だ。
I'll graduate in another six months.
I get a health checkup every six months.
I only moved here half a year ago, so I still don't know this town well.

半(はん) (half) + 年(とし) (year).

Common patterns

  • 半年(はんとし)で: in half a year
  • 半年(はんとし)ぶりに: for the first time in half a year
  • 半年(はんとし)ごとに: every six months
  • 半年(はんとし)後(ご) / 半年(はんとし)前(まえ): six months later / ago

Pronunciation

  • はんとし is the everyday reading; はんねん is also heard in formal and business contexts (半年間(はんとしかん) or 半年間(はんねんかん))

Related words