半 (half) + 年 (year).
Common patterns
- 半年で: in half a year
- 半年ぶりに: for the first time in half a year
- 半年ごとに: every six months
- 半年後 / 半年前: 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 or 半年間)
Related words