Difference between revisions of "Simultaneous tasks with "yibian""

Revision as of 23:07, 24 November 2013

Level

A2 / HSK3
Level

A2
Level

HSK3
Similar to
Similar to
- Aspect particle "zhe" (HSK2, HSK3)
- Expressing "when" with "de shihou" (HSK2)
- Expressing "both A and B" with "you" (HSK3)
- Expressing "when" with "shi" (HSK3)
- Expressing "along with…" with "suizhe" (HSK4)
- Expressing simultaneous actions with "yimian" (HSK5)
Used for

Referring to simultaneous events, Indicating conditions
Keywords

一边, 边

Multitasking is vital to life in the modern world (most likely you are reading this article on a separate tab among many in your browser!), therefore it would make sense to learn a way to express simultaneous tasks in Chinese!

Structure

To express that one thing is done whilst doing something else, the word 一边 (yībiān) is used.

Subject + 一边 + Verb， + 一边 + Verb

Note that you sometimes see 一边 shortened to 边 as well, which has a less formal feel.

Examples

我一边看电视，一边吃东西。I watch TV while I eat something.
他们一边唱歌，一边跳舞，真热闹！They dance while they sing, how exciting!
你喜欢一边散步一边聊天吗？Do you like talking while walking?
我们一边吃一边聊吧。Let's eat while we talk.
请你一边看一边读。Please look while you read.
我一边 工作一边听音乐。I listen to music while working
小孩子喜欢一边吃饭一边玩。Children like to eat while they play.
一边走路一边看美女。While walking on the road, I saw a pretty girl.
那个男人一边说一边笑。That guy laughs while he talks.
我觉得一边喝酒一边跳舞很难。I think drinking alcohol and dancing at the same time is very hard.

Note that you must be actively doing both actions. That is, they have to be intentional. If you want to say something happened while another thing was happening, it would be better to use "的时候".

Sources and further reading

Books

Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 207) →buy
New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 17) →buy

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	Multitasking is vital to life in the modern world (most likely you are reading this article on a separate tab among many in your browser!), therefore it would make sense to learn a way to express simultaneous tasks in Chinese!		Multitasking is vital to life in the modern world (most likely you are reading this article on a separate tab among many in your browser!), therefore it would make sense to learn a way to express simultaneous tasks in Chinese!