bun3 sou3半數半数
Jyutpingbun3 sou3
Yalebun sou
Definition
Half; half of the total number.
neutralnumbersother
How it's used
Focuses on the statistical or proportional aspect of a group rather than a physical division of an object. It is more formal than using 一半, often appearing in news reports, business contexts, or when discussing voting results and demographics. While 一半 can be used for almost anything, 半數 feels more precise and analytical.
Examples
Half of the people here are students.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it for physical objects like food or items that can be cut in half, such as saying 半數蘋果 for half an apple; use 一半 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
