1.
first half
The first half of a time period, event, game, or other divisible whole. Commonly used for halves of sports matches, decades, books, and similar.
試合の前半が終わった。
The first half of the game ended.
映画の前半はテンポが遅かった。
The first half of the movie had a slow pace.
今年の前半は忙しかったが、後半は少し落ち着いた。
The first half of this year was busy, but things calmed down a bit in the second half.
前半 refers to the first half of any divisible period, event, or work — sports matches, years, books, movies, etc.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 前半戦: first half of a match
- 年の前半: first half of the year
- 前半と後半: first half and second half
- ～年代前半: early part of a decade (e.g., 2020年代前半 = early 2020s)
USAGE:
Always paired conceptually with 後半 (second half). In sports, the halftime break separates 前半 and 後半. For books or movies, it refers roughly to the first half of the content.
CONTRAST:
- 前半: first half (of a defined whole)
- 前期: first term/period (academic or fiscal)
- 序盤: opening phase (more flexible, not exactly half)
Related Words
Antonym:
後半 (second half)