ハーフhaafu

1. nounhalf
2. nounbiracial person (esp. half-Japanese); person of mixed parentage
3. noun, sportshalf (of a game)
4. noun, sportshalfback
5. noun, golf9-hole half (of a round)

• Synonym半分はんぶんNeutralThe everyday word for half and the most common choice; it stands alone, as in 「半分に切る」. 「ハーフ」 on its own usually means a biracial person or half of a game.
• Synonym二分の一にぶんのいちNeutralThe precise term for one-half, used in math, ratios and exact statements; everyday speech says 「半分」, and 「ハーフ」 is not used in calculations.
• Related半はんNeutralMeans half, mostly as an element in compounds or for thirty minutes past, as in 「3時半」「半額」; 「ハーフ」 goes with loanwords and also means a biracial person or half of a game.
• AntonymフルNeutralA loanword for full or complete, as in 「フルタイム」「フルマラソン」; it is the opposite of 「ハーフ」, which covers only half.

For everyday 'half' say 「半分」. Use 「ハーフ」 for a biracial person, half of a game, and loanword compounds like 「ハーフマラソン」. Thirty minutes past the hour is 「半」, and math or precise figures take 「二分の一」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 半分はんぶん。二に分ぶんの一いち。
2. 混血こんけつ（の人ひと）。※あいのこ・混血児こんけつじからの言いいかえ語ご。
3. 球技きゅうぎなでで試合しあい時間じかんを分わけたときの前半ぜんはんまたは後半こうはん。
4. ゴルフで全ぜん18ホールのうち半分はんぶんの9ホール。