Meaning
半小时 is a common time expression meaning 'half an hour' or 'thirty minutes.' It combines 半 (half) with 小时 (hour) to express this specific duration. This is one of the most basic and frequently used time expressions in everyday Chinese.
Usage
Native speakers use 半小时 constantly when discussing durations or scheduling. It can appear with time-related verbs like 花 (to spend time), 等 (to wait), or 用 (to take/use). It's neutral in register and appropriate for both spoken and written Chinese. Common in phrases like '再过半小时' (in another half hour) or '只要半小时' (only takes half an hour).
Examples
- 01从这里到机场只要半小时。.It only takes half an hour from here to the airport.
- 02我每天花半小时学习中文。.I spend half an hour every day studying Chinese.
Characters
Measure words
- 个半个小时
Common collocations
- 半个小时half an hour (with measure word)
- 等半小时to wait half an hour
- 花半小时to spend half an hour
- 再过半小时in another half hour
Origin
小时 literally means 'small time' and is the modern standard word for 'hour.' Adding 半 (half) creates the compound for 'half hour,' following the same pattern as other fractional time expressions in Chinese.