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

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* 我 <em>一边</em> 看 电视,<em>一边</em> 吃 东西。<span class="trans">I watch TV while I eat something.</span>
 
* 我 <em>一边</em> 看 电视,<em>一边</em> 吃 东西。<span class="trans">I watch TV while I eat something.</span>
* 他们 <em>一边</em> 唱歌, <em>一边</em> 跳舞。<span class="trans">They dance while they sing.</span>
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* 他们 <em>一边</em> 唱 歌, <em>一边</em> 跳 舞。<span class="trans">They dance while they sing.</span>
* 你 喜欢 <em>一边</em> 散步 <em>一边</em> 聊天吗?<span class="trans">Do you like talking while walking? </span>
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* 你 喜欢 <em>一边</em> 散步 <em>一边</em> 聊天 吗?<span class="trans">Do you like talking while walking? </span>
 
* 我们 一<em>边</em> 吃 一<em>边</em> 聊 吧。<span class="trans">Let's eat while we talk.</span>
 
* 我们 一<em>边</em> 吃 一<em>边</em> 聊 吧。<span class="trans">Let's eat while we talk.</span>
 
* 请 你 <em>一边</em> 看 <em>一边</em> 读。<span class="trans">Please look while you read.</span>
 
* 请 你 <em>一边</em> 看 <em>一边</em> 读。<span class="trans">Please look while you read.</span>
* <em>我一边</em> 工作 <em>一边</em> 听 音乐。<span class="trans">I listen to music while working</span>
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* <em>一边</em> 工作 <em>一边</em> 听 音乐。<span class="trans">I listen to music while working</span>
* 小孩子 喜欢 <em>一边</em> 吃饭 <em>一边</em> 玩。<span class="trans">Children like to eat while they play.</span>
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* 小孩子 喜欢 <em>一边</em> 吃 饭 <em>一边</em> 玩。<span class="trans">Children like to eat while they play.</span>
* <em>一边</em> 走路 <em>一边</em> 看 美女。<span class="trans">While walking on the road, I saw a pretty girl.</span>
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* <em>一边</em> 走路 <em>一边</em> 看 美女。<span class="trans">Look at pretty girls while walking on the road.</span>
 
* 那 个 男人 <em>一边</em> 说 <em>一边</em> 笑。<span class="trans">That guy laughs while he talks.</span>
 
* 那 个 男人 <em>一边</em> 说 <em>一边</em> 笑。<span class="trans">That guy laughs while he talks.</span>
 
* 我 觉得 <em>一边</em> 喝 酒 <em>一边</em> 跳舞 很 难。<span class="trans">I think drinking alcohol and dancing at the same time is very hard.</span>
 
* 我 觉得 <em>一边</em> 喝 酒 <em>一边</em> 跳舞 很 难。<span class="trans">I think drinking alcohol and dancing at the same time is very hard.</span>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 207) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
+
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 207) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 17) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]  
+
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (p. 17) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]  
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{Used for|Referring to simultaneous events}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to simultaneous events}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
{{POS|Verbs}}
+
{{POS|Adverbs}}
{{Subprop|Verb phrases}}
 

Revision as of 07:41, 21 February 2014

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

  • 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。They dance while they sing.
  • 你 喜欢 一边 散步 一边 聊天 吗?Do you like talking while walking?
  • 我们 一 吃 一 聊 吧。Let's eat while we talk.
  • 请 你 一边一边 读。Please look while you read.
  • 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。Look at pretty girls while walking on the road.
  • 那 个 男人 一边一边 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".

See also

Sources and further reading

Books