半天 (bàntiān): half a day

Meanings

Often used figuratively to mean 'quite a while', not literally half a day.

我等了半天。

Wǒ děng le bàntiān.

I waited for quite a while.

他说了半天，我还是不懂。

Tā shuō le bàntiān, wǒ háishi bù dǒng.

He talked for ages, and I still don't understand.

usage

半天 is more often used figuratively ('a long time') than literally ('half a day'). Context makes the meaning clear.

半 bàn

天 tiān