In painting and photography, a half-length picture shows a person from the head down to about the waist. You see the face, the shoulders, the chest, and usually the hands — but not the legs, and not the whole body standing there.

In painting and photography在繪畫和攝影裡， a half-length picture一張半身像 shows呈現 a person一個人 from the head從頭 down to about the waist到大約腰部為止。 You see你看得到 the face, the shoulders, the chest臉、肩膀、胸口， and usually the hands通常還有手—— but not the legs但看不到腿， and not the whole body standing there也不是整個人站在那裡。

Artists have long talked about portraits by “length”: a full-length one shows you from head to toe; a three-quarter-length one stops around the knees; a half-length one stops around the middle.

Artists畫家們 have long talked about portraits談人像談了很久 by “length”都是用「長度」在談： a full-length one全身的 shows you讓你 from head to toe從頭到腳入畫； a three-quarter-length one七分身的 stops around the knees停在膝蓋附近； a half-length one半身的 stops around the middle停在身體的中段。

Though actually, “half” here is not a tape-measure. It does not mean the canvas is half as long, or that the person is painted small. It means how much of the body is in the frame.

Though actually不過其實， “half” here這裡的 “half” is not a tape-measure不是用捲尺量出來的。 It does not mean它不是說 the canvas畫布 is half as long只有一半長， or that the person也不是說人 is painted small被畫得比較小。 It means它說的是 how much of the body身體有多少 is in the frame進到畫面裡。

You will meet this word in museums, auction notes, and older art writing more than in everyday talk. A modern photographer might just say “a shot from the waist up.”

in museums, auction notes, and older art writing在美術館、拍賣說明和比較老的藝術文字裡 You will meet this word你遇到這個字的機會， more than in everyday talk多過在日常談話裡。 A modern photographer現代的攝影師 might just say可能就只說 “a shot from the waist up.”腰部以上的一張。