1.
half the number; half of a group or total
Half of a countable set of people or things. Used in statistics, voting, and survey reports, where the related thresholds 過半数 (a majority) and 半数以上 (half or more) matter.
半 (half) + 数 (number). Counts members of a set, so it is used with people, votes, and items — not with amounts like water or money, where 半分 is used.
Common collocations
- 半数以上: half or more, more than half
- 半数近く: close to half
- 過半数: a majority (more than half; the voting threshold)
- 半数を占める: to account for half