<p>一个半月 according to Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar. A quick search online, however, turned up plenty of uses of both phrases.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-01T00:50:55.933Z
2013-12-01T00:50:55.933Z
user238264
<p>Technically 一个半月 is better and more common in written scripts. Although I don't understand why 一个半月 returns few results in Google, but those mentioning 一个月半 seem to be mostly related to infant raising. I'd say both is okay if you want to use in informal speeches.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-26T19:41:36.400Z
Basically when referring to age, it's always 一岁半, 两岁半, and thus (as a natural extension) 一个月半, 两个月半 and this is only used when referring to age.
user58955
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-01T02:36:31.530Z
2013-12-01T02:36:31.530Z
phoeagon
<p>It should be "一个半月". It's easy. When we refer to somethings, we usually say <strong>"mumber"+"classifier"</strong>. For this phrase, "一个半" is "number" and "月" is classifier. BTW, 'more than one month'(less than two months) should be "一个多月" rather than "一个月多".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-21T13:24:51.760Z
2013-12-21T13:24:51.760Z
谢海鹏
<p>In classical Chinese we say "月半" without quantities because there are only 1 for 月 and 1 for 半.</p>

<p>In modern Chinese both are acceptable, but 一个半月 seems more natural to most native speakers, especially in oral communication.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-20T21:51:34.943Z
2013-12-20T21:51:34.943Z
Joseph S WU
<p>For me, both of them are acceptable and mean the same thing. however, i do prefer 一个半月 over 一个月半. the latter seems a liitle too colloquial for me.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-07T21:31:02.557Z
2013-12-07T21:31:02.557Z
Mingjing Zhang
<p>I'm a native Chinese speaker. I can't agree with 'Red Wolf's Husband'.
I can't explain too much from grammar point of view.
But I can guarantee you that "一个半月" is the correct way to express 1.5 month.
"一个月半" can also be understood by native speaker though. "一个月半" sounds not that smooth especially in oral Chinese.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-22T22:03:29.440Z
2013-12-22T22:03:29.440Z
user3705
<p>For my experience, when “半” appears in a sentence, its position should be "
number + classifier + 半 + noun". 
When you say "I've been waiting for 1.5 months.", then "月“ functions as the noun, and “个” as the classifier.
But sometimes “月” can also be used as a classifier, especially when describing the age of an infant. That's why we say 
“一个月半（大）的 婴儿”. </p>

<p>However, there is no general rule for which noun can be used as a classifier. For example, “天” and “年” always appear as classifiers.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-01T07:09:03.317Z
I don't think 半 is ever a classifier. See [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinese_classifiers).
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-01T05:26:40.727Z
2013-12-01T05:26:40.727Z
mmickey
<p>easily, there should be one unit character between number and the 半.</p>

<p>一个半月 一天半 for example.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-23T02:07:52.223Z
2014-01-23T02:07:52.223Z
Allen St.Clair
<p>I am a local chinese,i think, for us,both are ok,when a chinese want to say 1.5 mouth, we usually say "一个月半" rather then "一个半月". And sometimes, "一个月半" also means half a mouth if you separate it as "一个" and "半月",that mean a half month</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-21T04:09:27.920Z
2013-12-21T04:09:27.920Z
Red Wolf's Husband
<p>What's the correct translation for 1.5 months?</p>

<p>Is it "一个月半" or "一个半月“?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-23T04:37:38.930Z
Interesting question,as a native Chinese speaker, I must tell you `一个半月` is the right way. But I never think about such questions.
einverne
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-22T14:48:15.033Z
Totally agree with "user3705".
faraday
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-22T16:12:24.290Z
This does not provide an answer to the question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post - you can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient [reputation](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) you will be able to [comment on any post](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/comment).
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-01T07:22:02.893Z
I think `半` acts as a modifier for `一个` in `一个半月`, but is a shortened representation of `又半个月` in `一个月半`. The way `个月` works is similar to `块`, `岁`, etc.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-06T15:03:03.917Z
@QuestionOverflow, in 半个月, 半 is a numeral, rather than a modifier; i.e., in the way the phrase is constructed, 半个月 = 一个月. Very theoretically, you could create 半个半月 to mean ‘three fourths of a month’. (But don’t—you wouldn’t be understood!)
Janus Bahs Jacquet
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-08T03:14:56.940Z
@JanusBahsJacquet, `in the way the phrase is constructed, 半个月 = 一个月`, which phrase are you referring to?
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-08T03:33:23.713Z
@Q, I'm referring to the phrase 半个月.
Janus Bahs Jacquet
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-08T12:26:01.190Z
@JanusBahsJacquet, sorry, I don't get you at all. How can 半个月 (0.5 month) = 一个月 (1 month)?
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-08T12:28:27.527Z
@Q, like I said, they're equal _in the way they're constructed_. Obviously not in meaning. Their construction is [numeral] + [classifier] + [noun].
Janus Bahs Jacquet
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-08T13:59:56.273Z
@JanusBahsJacquet, ah, yes. I agree with you. Thanks for the correction.
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-19T15:08:20.683Z
Note that 一个月半 can also come from casual and unexperienced translation of corresponding Japanese, 一ヶ月半. Personally I have only seen 一个半月 from literature in Chinese originally, but 一个月半 did occur in e.g. Chinese translation of Japanese novels.
Abel Cheung
<grammar>
What's the correct translation for 1.5 months? Is it "一个月半" or "一个半月“?
# What's the correct translation for 1.5 months? Is it "一个月半" or "一个半月“?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-11-30)

What's the correct translation for 1.5 months?

Is it "一个月半" or "一个半月“?

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I think `半` acts as a modifier for `一个` in `一个半月`, but is a shortened representation of `又半个月` in `一个月半`. The way `个月` works is similar to `块`, `岁`, etc.  
> **username_5**: @QuestionOverflow, in 半个月, 半 is a numeral, rather than a modifier; i.e., in the way the phrase is constructed, 半个月 = 一个月. Very theoretically, you could create 半个半月 to mean ‘three fourths of a month’. (But don’t—you wouldn’t be understood!)  
> **username_4**: @username_5, `in the way the phrase is constructed, 半个月 = 一个月`, which phrase are you referring to?  
> **username_5**: @Q, I'm referring to the phrase 半个月.  
> **username_4**: @username_5, sorry, I don't get you at all. How can 半个月 (0.5 month) = 一个月 (1 month)?  
> **username_5**: @Q, like I said, they're equal _in the way they're constructed_. Obviously not in meaning. Their construction is [numeral] + [classifier] + [noun].  
> **username_4**: @username_5, ah, yes. I agree with you. Thanks for the correction.  
> **username_1**: Interesting question,as a native Chinese speaker, I must tell you `一个半月` is the right way. But I never think about such questions.  
> **username_2**: Totally agree with "username_13".  
> **username_3**: This does not provide an answer to the question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post - you can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient [reputation](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/help/whats-reputation) you will be able to [comment on any post](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/help/privileges/comment).  
> **username_6**: Note that 一个月半 can also come from casual and unexperienced translation of corresponding Japanese, 一ヶ月半. Personally I have only seen 一个半月 from literature in Chinese originally, but 一个月半 did occur in e.g. Chinese translation of Japanese novels.  

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## 9 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2013-12-01. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

一个半月 according to Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar. A quick search online, however, turned up plenty of uses of both phrases.


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2013-12-01. Score: 4

Technically 一个半月 is better and more common in written scripts. Although I don't understand why 一个半月 returns few results in Google, but those mentioning 一个月半 seem to be mostly related to infant raising. I'd say both is okay if you want to use in informal speeches.

> **Comments:**
> **username_9**: Basically when referring to age, it's always 一岁半, 两岁半, and thus (as a natural extension) 一个月半, 两个月半 and this is only used when referring to age.  

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### Answer by username_10 on 2013-12-21. Score: 2

It should be "一个半月". It's easy. When we refer to somethings, we usually say **"mumber"+"classifier"**. For this phrase, "一个半" is "number" and "月" is classifier. BTW, 'more than one month'(less than two months) should be "一个多月" rather than "一个月多".


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### Answer by username_11 on 2013-12-20. Score: 2

In classical Chinese we say "月半" without quantities because there are only 1 for 月 and 1 for 半.

In modern Chinese both are acceptable, but 一个半月 seems more natural to most native speakers, especially in oral communication.


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### Answer by username_12 on 2013-12-07. Score: 2

For me, both of them are acceptable and mean the same thing. however, i do prefer 一个半月 over 一个月半. the latter seems a liitle too colloquial for me.


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### Answer by username_13 on 2013-12-22. Score: 2

I'm a native Chinese speaker. I can't agree with 'username_16'.
I can't explain too much from grammar point of view.
But I can guarantee you that "一个半月" is the correct way to express 1.5 month.
"一个月半" can also be understood by native speaker though. "一个月半" sounds not that smooth especially in oral Chinese.


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### Answer by username_14 on 2013-12-01. Score: 0

For my experience, when “半” appears in a sentence, its position should be "
number + classifier + 半 + noun".
When you say "I've been waiting for 1.5 months.", then "月“ functions as the noun, and “个” as the classifier.
But sometimes “月” can also be used as a classifier, especially when describing the age of an infant. That's why we say
“一个月半（大）的 婴儿”.

However, there is no general rule for which noun can be used as a classifier. For example, “天” and “年” always appear as classifiers.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I don't think 半 is ever a classifier. See [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinese_classifiers).  

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### Answer by username_15 on 2014-01-23. Score: 0

easily, there should be one unit character between number and the 半.

一个半月 一天半 for example.


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### Answer by username_16 on 2013-12-21. Score: 0

I am a local chinese,i think, for us,both are ok,when a chinese want to say 1.5 mouth, we usually say "一个月半" rather then "一个半月". And sometimes, "一个月半" also means half a mouth if you separate it as "一个" and "半月",that mean a half month


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