半(なか)ば

なかば
noun, adverb
middle, halfway, half
1. middle, halfway point
The midpoint of a period, process, or physical distance.
仕事(しごと)は半(なか)ばまで終(お)わった。
The work is halfway done.
3月(がつ)半(なか)ばに引(ひ)っ越(こ)す。
I'm moving in mid-March.
〜半(なか)ば = mid-~
8月(がつ)半(なか)ばに旅行(りょこう)に行(い)く予定(よてい)です。
I plan to go on a trip in mid-August.
映画(えいが)の半(なか)ばで寝(ね)てしまった。
I fell asleep halfway through the movie.
人生(じんせい)の半(なか)ばを過(す)ぎてから、やりたいことが見(み)つかった。
I found what I wanted to do after passing the halfway point of my life.
2. partially, half
Used adverbially to indicate something is partial or incomplete.
半(なか)ば冗談(じょうだん)で言(い)った。
I said it half-jokingly.
半(なか)ば諦(あきら)めていた。
I had half given up.
半(なか)ば強制的(きょうせいてき)に参加(さんか)させられた。
I was semi-forcibly made to participate.
彼(かれ)は半(なか)ば本気(ほんき)で言(い)っているようだった。
He seemed to be half-serious about what he was saying.
半(なか)ば諦(あきら)めていたが、最後(さいご)に成功(せいこう)した。
I had half given up, but I succeeded in the end.

USAGE: 半(なか)ば can function as both a noun (midpoint) and an adverb (partially, half).

COMMON PATTERNS:

NUANCE: When used adverbially with verbs or adjectives, 半(なか)ば suggests the action or state is incomplete or partial. It often carries a nuance of ambivalence.

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Added 2026.1.12 19:30 · Revised 2026.5.26 7:05
03500/03500_nakaba