Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"

Revision as of 05:56, 21 February 2013 by Guomubai (talk | contribs)

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 (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 聊 吧。Let's eat and talk. (Let's eat whilst we chat.)

See also

Sources and further reading

Books