traditional short winter coat; hanten
A traditional Japanese short winter coat resembling a haori but without side vents (gussets). Often worn indoors or by workers.
See also: 羽織
It's cold, so I'm wearing the hanten my grandmother gave me.
In old merchant houses, the head clerk worked wearing a hanten.
livery coat; uniform coat
A hanten bearing a family crest or shop mark, worn by employees as a uniform. Often called 印半纏 (shirushi-banten).
See also: 印半纏
At the festival, the young men wear matching livery coats.
half the sky
Only when written 半天
Literally 'half the sky'; used only with the kanji spelling 半天. Rare standalone; more common in poetic or descriptive contexts.
A huge rainbow appeared, covering half the sky.
mid-air; middle of the sky
Only when written 半天
Refers to a point or area in the middle of the sky. Restricted to the kanji spelling 半天. Rare.
The fireworks burst open in mid-air.
Standard kanji spelling for the traditional coat.
Kanji spelling for the 'half the sky' and 'mid-air' senses; not used for the coat.
Alternate kanji spelling for the coat; less common than 半纏.
Rare variant of 半纏.
Irregular kanji usage for the coat; not recommended for learners.
The word 半纏 (hanten) is of uncertain origin. One theory suggests it derives from 半天 (half the sky), possibly referring to the shape or coverage of the garment, but this is speculative. The kanji 半纏 and 袢纏 are ateji (phonetic equivalents) used for the coat.