Korean Dictionary
How to say "Half" in Korean
“Half” in Korean is 반 (pronounced "ban").
반
ban
Usage & Context
The word for half, used to indicate one of two equal parts. This is commonly used in time expressions, measurements, and fractions.
Example Sentence
케이크의 반을 먹었어요.
I ate half of the cake.
How to use 반 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Half” is 반, romanized as ban.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 반.
Pronunciation Guide
The word '반' (ban) is pronounced like 'bahn' in 'banjo' or 'bon' in 'bond', with a clear 'a' vowel sound.
More Example Sentences
Declining a full portion of food.
피자 반만 먹을게요.
I'll only eat half of the pizza.
Stating the current time.
지금 여섯 시 반이에요.
It's half past six now.
Talking about friends in a school class (here '반' means 'class').
우리 반 친구들은 다 착해요.
All my classmates are kind.
Cultural Context
'반' is a versatile word. Beyond meaning 'half' of something, it's also commonly used to mean 'class' (as in a school class, e.g., '우리 반', 'our class') or 'group'. When referring to time, '반' is frequently used for 'half past the hour' (e.g., '세 시 반', 'three thirty'). Koreans also use '반반' (ban-ban) to mean 'half and half', often when ordering food like '치킨 반반' (chicken half and half, referring to two flavors).
Editorial note
We review entries like 반 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
반으로 자르다
to cut in half
반나절
half a day
반말
casual speech (lit. 'half speech')
Related Expressions
절반
jeolban
half (often used formally or for a larger portion)
반반
banban
half and half
나누다
nanuda
to divide, to share
반값
ban-gap
half price
More Numbers and Time Words
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