半 + Classifier

Half of Something

Level 2Sounds Like bun3

半 (bun3) + Classifier (+ Noun)
This pattern is the standard way to express 'half' of a specific unit in Cantonese, such as 'half an hour' or 'half a bowl'.

How It Works

The structure for counting in Cantonese is usually [Number + Classifier + Noun]. 半 (bun3) acts as the number in this frame.

Key Rules:

  • Placement: It always comes before the classifier: 半個 (bun3 go3) 'half a [unit]'.
  • No 'One': In Cantonese, we say 半個, not 一半個. The 'one' is implied.
  • With Nouns: If you are naming the object, it follows the classifier: 半碗飯 (bun3 wun2 faan6) 'half a bowl of rice'.
  • Mensural Classifiers: It works perfectly with containers or weights, like 半磅 (bun3 bong6) 'half a pound' or 半杯 (bun3 bui1) 'half a cup'.

Important Distinction:
If the amount is more than one (e.g., 'one and a half'), the word 半 moves to the end of the phrase. See Number + CL + 半 for that specific pattern.

Examples (4)

  1. 半個鐘

    Half an hour

    Word by Word: half - [classifier] - clock

    鐘 (zung1) means 'clock' but is used here for 'hour'. 個 (go3) is the classifier.

  2. 我食咗半碗飯。

    I ate half a bowl of rice.

    Word by Word: I - eat - [perfective] - half - bowl - rice

    Here, 碗 (wun2) acts as the classifier for the rice.

  3. 呢度有半打蛋。

    There is half a dozen eggs here.

    Word by Word: here - have - half - dozen - egg

    打 (daa1) is the loanword classifier for 'dozen'.

  4. 佢飲咗半樽水。

    He drank half a bottle of water.

    Word by Word: he - drink - [perfective] - half - bottle - water

    樽 (zeon1) is the classifier for bottles.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding 'one' (jat1) before 'half' when using a classifier.

    我想要一半個橙。
    我想要半個橙。

    In Cantonese, you don't say 'one half unit'. You simply say 'half unit' (半個). '一半' (jat1 bun3) is usually used alone as a noun meaning 'one half'.

  • Confusing 'half a unit' with 'one and a half units'.

    我等咗一個半個鐘。
    我等咗一個半鐘。

    To say 'one and a half', the word 半 (bun3) must come AFTER the classifier. Saying '一個半個' is redundant and incorrect.

How It Connects

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

半 + ClassifierLevel 2Half of Something

Learn This First

To understand how to say 'half of something' in Cantonese, you first need to be familiar with the basic 'Number + Classifier + Noun' structure. The word '半' (bun3) functions exactly like a number in this grammatical frame.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

半