What does 半ば mean?
半ば is a Japanese noun meaning “middle, halfway” in English. It can also be translated as “half (of), half (e.g. done, jokingly), mostly” depending on context. It is written as 半ば in kanji, なかば in hiragana, and nakaba in romaji. This word is part of JLPT N3 vocabulary.
Example sentences
彼女は４０代半ばで再婚した。
She married again in her mid-forties.
人生とは何であるかを知ったとき、すでに生涯の半ばは過ぎている。
Life is half spent before we know what it is.
出だしがよければ半ばやり遂げたようなものだ。
Well begun is half done.