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 说话,一边 吃 东西。Bù yào yībiān</emchī dōngxi ,yībiān shuōhuà.Don't talk while I eat something.
  • 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.
  • 你 喜欢 一边 散步 一边 聊天 吗?Nǐ xǐhuan yībiān sànbù yībiān liáotiān ma?Do you like talking while walking?
  • 我们 一边一边 聊 吧。Wǒmen yībiān zǒu yībiān liáo ba.Let's talk while we walk.
  • 请 你 一边一边 写。Qǐng nǐ yībiānyībiān xiě.Please write while you read.
  • 老板 不 在 的 时候 我们 可以 一边 吃 东西 一边 工作。 Lǎobǎn bù zài de shíhou wǒmen chī dōngxi yībiān gōngzuò yībiān gōngzuò.We can eat while we work when the boss is not here.
  • 小孩子 喜欢 一边 吃 饭 一边 玩。Xiǎo háizi xǐhuan yībiān chīfàn yībiān wán.Children like to eat while they play.
  • 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.
  • 他们 在 车 里 一边一边 笑。 Tāmen zài chē lǐ yībiān shuō yībiān xiào.They were laughing while they were talking in the car.
  • 我 觉得 一边 喝 酒 一边 跳舞 很 好玩。Wǒ juédé yībiān hējiǔ yībiān tiàowǔ hěn hǎowán.I think drinking alcohol and dancing at the same time is fun.

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

Sources and further reading

Books