Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"

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! This can be done with 一边 (yībiān).

Structure

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

Subj. + 一边 + Verb， + 一边 + Verb

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

Examples

• 不要 一边 吃 东西，一边 说话。Bù yào yībiān chī dōngxi, yībiān shuōhuà. Don't talk while eating.
• 我 常常 一边 洗澡， 一边 唱歌。Wǒ chángcháng yībiān xǐzǎo, yībiān chànggē. I often sing while I take the shower.
• 小孩子 喜欢 一边 吃 饭， 一边 玩。Xiǎoháizi xǐhuan yībiān chīfàn, yībiān wán. Children like to eat while playing.
• 你 喜欢 一边 听 音乐， 一边 做 作业 吗？Nǐ xǐhuan yībiān tīng yīnyuè, yībiān zuò zuòyè ma? Do you like to listen to the music while doing homework?
• 我们 一边 走 一边 聊 吧。Wǒmen yībiān zǒu yībiān liáo ba. Let's talk while we walk.
• 请 你 一边 读 一边 写。Qǐng nǐ yībiān dú yībiān xiě. Please write while you read.
• 不要 一边 开车， 一边 打电话。Bù yào yībiān kāichē, yībiān dǎ diànhuà. Don't talk on the phone while you drive.
• 老板 喜欢 一边 抽烟， 一边 工作。Lǎobǎn xǐhuan yībiān chōuyān, yībiān gōngzuò. The boss likes to smoke while working.
• 很多 人 都 一边 上班， 一边 玩 手机。Hěn duō rén dōu yībiān shàngbān, yībiān wán shǒujī. Many people play with their cellphone while working.
• 她老公 很忙，她 常常 一边 做饭， 一边 带 小孩。 Tā lǎogōng hěn máng, tā chángcháng yībiān zuò fàn, yībiān dài xiǎohái. Her husband is very busy，so she often looks after the baby while cooking food.

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" (de shíhou).

See also

• Expressing simultaneous actions with "yimian"
• "Along with…" using "suizhe"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 207) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (p. 17) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (p. 269) →buy