bun3 tou4半途
Jyutpingbun3 tou4
Yalebun tòuh
Definition
Halfway; midway through a journey or task.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
While interchangeable with 半路 in many contexts, 半途 often carries a slightly more formal or literary nuance, especially when used in set expressions. It frequently appears in contexts involving progress or tasks rather than just physical travel. You will hear it most commonly in the idiom 半途而廢 when describing someone quitting a task before completion.
Examples
He suddenly felt unwell halfway there.
Don't give up halfway through your work.
Related words
Common phrases
to give up halfway
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 半路, which is more common in everyday spoken Cantonese for physical locations. Using 半途 in casual conversation about walking down the street can sound slightly stiff or bookish compared to the more natural 半路.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
