Number + Classifier + 半

And a Half

Level 2Sounds Like bun3

To say 'and a half' in Cantonese, use the structure: [Number] + [Classifier] + 半 (bun3) + [Noun]. For example, 一碗半飯 (jat1 wun2 bun3 faan6) means 'one and a half bowls of rice'.

How It Works

The pattern [Number] + [Classifier] + 半 (bun3) + [Noun] is the standard Cantonese structure for quantities involving a whole number plus a half ($X.5$).

Key Usage Rules:

  • Position: In the Number + CL + 半 structure, 半 (bun3) sits immediately after the classifier and before the head noun. For example: 一碗半飯 (jat1 wun2 bun3 faan6) = 1.5 bowls of rice.
  • Omitting 一 (jat1) for '1': When the whole number is 1 ($1.5$), native speakers very commonly drop 一 (jat1) and start directly with the classifier or unit noun: 碗半飯 (wun2 bun3 faan6, 1.5 bowls of rice), 個半鐘 (go3 bun3 zung1, 1.5 hours), or 年半 (nin4 bun3, 1.5 years).
  • Always use 兩 for '2': When the number is two, always use 兩 (loeng5), never 二 (ji6). For example: 兩個半鐘 (loeng5 go3 bun3 zung1) = 2.5 hours.
  • Self-Classifier Nouns: Nouns that serve as their own unit, such as 年 (nin4, year) or 日 (jat6, day), follow the Number + Unit Noun frame with 半 attached directly at the end: 一年半 (jat1 nin4 bun3) = 1.5 years.
  • Two-Syllable Time Units: For compound time units like 分鐘 (fan1 zung1, minute), 半 is inserted between the two syllables: 兩分半鐘 (loeng5 fan1 bun3 zung1) or simply 兩分半 (loeng5 fan1 bun3) = 2.5 minutes.
  • Price Shorthand: In everyday speech, Number + 個 (go3) + 半 (bun3) expresses dollars and fifty cents (e.g., 三個半 saam1 go3 bun3 = $3.50).

Important Distinction:
Do not confuse this pattern with 半 + Classifier + Noun (e.g., 半碗飯 bun3 wun2 faan6 = half a bowl of rice, less than 1 unit). Placing 半 after the classifier indicates a total greater than 1 unit ($X.5$).

Examples (4)

  1. 我食咗一碗半飯。

    I ate one and a half bowls of rice.

    Word by Word: I ate [completed] one bowl half rice.

    The word 半 (bun3) comes directly after the bowl classifier 碗 (wun2) and before the noun 飯 (faan6).

  2. 呢個會開咗兩個半鐘。

    This meeting went on for two and a half hours.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] meeting hold [completed] two [classifier] half hour.

    When using two with classifiers, 兩 (loeng5) is required instead of 二 (ji6).

  3. 呢件衫三個半。

    This shirt costs three dollars and fifty cents.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] shirt three [classifier] half.

    In Cantonese currency context, 三個半 (saam1 go3 bun3) is standard shorthand for $3.50.

  4. 佢喺香港住咗一年半。

    He has lived in Hong Kong for one and a half years.

    Word by Word: He at Hong Kong live [completed] one year half.

    Nouns like 年 (nin4, year) act as their own classifiers, so 半 (bun3) follows directly after 年.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 半 (bun3) after the noun instead of right after the classifier.

    我食咗一碗飯半。
    我食咗一碗半飯。

    In Cantonese, 半 (bun3) must be placed between the classifier and the noun, not at the end of the noun phrase.

  • Using 二 (ji6) instead of 兩 (loeng5) for the number two.

    呢個會開咗二個半鐘。
    呢個會開咗兩個半鐘。

    When specifying two units before a classifier, Cantonese requires 兩 (loeng5).

  • Inserting 一半 (jat1 bun3) into the counting pattern.

    我食咗一碗一半飯。
    我食咗一碗半飯。

    一半 (jat1 bun3) is a standalone noun meaning 'one half'. In this counting frame, use only 半 (bun3).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Number + Classifier + 半Level 2And a Half

Learn This First

To understand how to say 'one and a half' or 'two and a half', you first need to be comfortable with the standard Cantonese counting frame (Number + Classifier + Noun). You also need to understand how the word 'half' (半) interacts with classifiers, as its position changes depending on whether you are talking about a half of something or a whole number plus a half.

Words in This Pattern

半