Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"
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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!
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 (I watch TV whilst I eat something.)
- 他们 一边 唱歌， 一边 跳舞，真 热闹！They dance while they sing, real exciting! (They dance sing whilst they dance, really exciting!)
- 你 会 一边 拍头 一边 揉 肚子 吗？Can you pat your head while you rub your belly? (Can you pat your head whilst you rub your belly?)
- 咱们 边 吃 边 聊 吧。Let's eat and talk. (Let's eat whilst we chat.)
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".
