Translation and Meaning of: 大半 - taihan

On this page, we will study the meaning of the Japanese word 大半 (taihan) and its translation into English. Let's see their different meanings, example phrases, explanations, etymology and the similar words.

Romaji: taihan

Kana: たいはん

Type: noun

L: jlpt-n3

大半

Translation / Meaning: majority; mainly; generally

Meaning in English: majority;mostly;generally

Definition: [noun] part. The central or substantial part of a whole.

Sumário
- Etymology
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Phrases

Explanation and Etymology - (大半) taihan

The word 「大半」 (taihan) is composed of two kanji: 「大」 (tai/dai), which means "large" or "greater," and 「半」 (han), which means "half" or "middle." This combination results in the meaning of "the majority" or "most." This expression is often used to describe a significant portion of a whole, referring to more than half of a group or quantity.

In etymology, the kanji 「大」 is a common radical in many Japanese words, representing something of great size or importance. On the other hand, 「半」 is used to express divisions or parts of a whole, as in 「半分」 (hanbun) which means "half". When combined, 「大半」 illustrates a dominant or majority portion in relation to the referred context. It is an expression that captures the essence of a large quantity or prevalence within a set.

The term "大半" can be used in various daily and formal contexts, such as in reports, descriptions of events or situations. Examples of contexts include the population of a city, where most residents can be described as "大半" of the inhabitants, or in a project, where most of the completed tasks can be marked this way. Due to its comprehensive nature, the expression is quite common and practical in Japanese vocabulary.

Variations and Use

「大半の時間」 (taihan no jikan) - Most of the time.
「大半の人」 (taihan no hito) - Most people.
「大半が終わった」 (taihan ga owatta) - Most of it has been completed.

While some words may have variations in meaning depending on the context, 「大半」 maintains its notion of dominance in quantity, whether in numbers, time, or effort. This makes it a versatile and efficient expression within the Japanese language. Furthermore, knowing terms like this can enrich the understanding of the language and facilitate communication in contexts involving statistics or quantitative descriptions.

Synonyms and similar words

ほとんど (hotondo) - Almost everything; most of it, but it can leave a perception of exceptions.
大部分 (daibubun) - The majority in quantitative terms; it refers to a large portion without implicit exception.
大多数 (daitasuu) - The majority; indicates a dominant or prevalent number, typically in contexts of voting or opinion.

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