Translation guide
Describes something that is only partially completed, not fully finished, or left in an incomplete state.
The work is half-done.
To say that a task, job, or project is only partly finished.
The most common and natural way to say something is half-done or incomplete, often with a nuance of being unsatisfactory or half-hearted.
That work is still half-done.
Literally 'in the middle of doing', used for something left unfinished, often with a sense of interruption.
My homework is still half-done.
More formal and objective, meaning 'incomplete' or 'unfinished', often used for projects, artworks, or constructions.
This building is still half-done.
A shorter, more casual version of 中途半端, often used in spoken language to mean half-done or incomplete.
That plan ended up half-done.
To describe food that is only partially cooked, such as meat or vegetables.
Specifically means half-cooked or undercooked, often used for meat, bread, or other baked goods.
This meat is half-done.
Literally 'half-boiled', used for food that is partially boiled or cooked in liquid.
The potatoes are half-done.
Often used for eggs (soft-boiled) or other foods that are intentionally half-cooked, not necessarily negative.
To describe an action or attitude that is not fully committed, lacking thoroughness.
Used as an adjective to describe something done in a half-done, half-hearted manner.
You can't succeed with a half-done attitude.
Means half-done in the sense of being sloppy, irresponsible, or not thorough.
His work is always half-done.
Emphasizes a lack of full commitment or skill, often used in the negative to mean 'not half-baked'.
Half-done knowledge is useless.
中途半端 implies a negative judgment about the incomplete state, often suggesting it should have been finished. やりかけ is more neutral, simply stating that something was started but not finished, without necessarily implying fault.
The direct translation '半分終わった' (half finished) is not commonly used in Japanese to mean 'half-done' in the sense of incomplete tasks. It sounds like a literal progress report rather than a description of an unsatisfactory state.
半熟卵が好きだ。
I like half-done eggs.