HSK 7–9 grammar · pattern
半A半B
半A半B — half A, half B
Pattern
+ + +
( ) can be left out · other words may come before, between and after
How it works
半A半B describes a state mixed evenly from two opposite qualities: 半信半疑 "half believing, half doubting". A and B are single syllables and usually contrast, and the whole works as a set four-character description.
Examples
他半信半疑地看着我。
Tā bànxìn-bànyí de kànzhe wǒ.
He looked at me half believing, half doubting.
这活儿他半途而废，半心半意。
Zhè huór tā bàntú'érfèi, bànxīn-bànyì.
He gave up halfway, only half committed.
Related
See it in a story
In the app, 半A半B is underlined wherever it appears in the stories you read, and practised with sentences from them. Free.