1.
half; half past (with times)
Half of a quantity or amount. When used with clock times, it means half past the hour.
三時半に会いましょう。
Let's meet at half past three.
半分の量で十分だ。
Half the amount is enough.
東京から大阪まで新幹線で二時間半ぐらいかかる。
It takes about two and a half hours from Tokyo to Osaka by bullet train.
半 means half. It is commonly attached after time expressions to mean "half past" and after counters to mean "and a half."
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 三時半: half past three (3:30)
- 一時間半: one and a half hours
- 半年: half a year; six months
- 半額: half price
- 半分: half (as a noun)
Note: 半 attached to time words means "half past," while 半分 is used to mean "half" as a standalone noun.