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

〜月(がつ)半(なか)ば (mid-month)
年(ねん)半(なか)ば (mid-year)
半(なか)ば過(す)ぎ (past the halfway point)
半(なか)ば諦(あきら)める (half give up)
半(なか)ば強制的(きょうせいてき)に (semi-forcibly)
道(みち)の半(なか)ば (halfway along the road)

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.

Related Words

Related: 半分 (half (a portion))

Related: 途中 (on the way, partway through)

Related: 中旬 (middle third of a month)

Related: 真ん中 (the exact center)

Compare: 中途(ちゅうと) (halfway, midway)

Compare: 中頃(なかごろ) (around the middle (of a period))

core

Added 2026.1.12 19:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

03500/03500_nakaba