ε
JLPT N5
Half, middle, semi, part
Readings
Onβyomi: γγ³ (han)
Kunβyomi: γͺγ (naka)
Detailed Explanation
Vocabulary
εε
γ―γγΆγ
half
εζ₯
γ―γγ«γ‘
half day
εεΉ΄
γ―γγγ
half year
εεγ
γ―γγΆγγ
share half
ει‘
γ―γγγ
half price
Example Sentences
εεγγ γγγ
γ―γγΆγ γγ γγγ
Please give me half.
εζ₯γγγγΎγγ
γ―γγ«γ‘ γγγγΎγγ
It takes half a day.
εεΉ΄ζ₯ζ¬γ«γγΎγγγ
γ―γγγ γ«γ»γγ« γγΎγγγ
I stayed in Japan for half a year.
Cultural Note
ε (half) is widely used in Japanese daily life and culture:
1. Time expressions:
o εεΎδΈζε (γγγγγγ―γ) β 3:30 PM
o Half hours are commonly expressed with ε.
2. Commerce and offers:
o Used in sales and pricing: ει‘γ»γΌγ« (half-price sale).
3. Figurative use:
o Can indicate partial effort, division, or sharing.
o Appears in idioms like εδΏ‘εη (γ―γγγγ―γγ) β half-believing, half-doubting.
1. Time expressions:
o εεΎδΈζε (γγγγγγ―γ) β 3:30 PM
o Half hours are commonly expressed with ε.
2. Commerce and offers:
o Used in sales and pricing: ει‘γ»γΌγ« (half-price sale).
3. Figurative use:
o Can indicate partial effort, division, or sharing.
o Appears in idioms like εδΏ‘εη (γ―γγγγ―γγ) β half-believing, half-doubting.