{{Grammar Box}} Multitasking is everywhere in the modern world (what else are you doing while you read this?), but you if can ''focus'' for just a minute, you can 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 ''while'' 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。Bùyào yībiān chī dōngxi, yībiān shuōhuà.Don't speak while eating. *我 常常 一边 洗澡， 一边 唱歌。Wǒ chángcháng yībiān xǐzǎo, yībiān chànggē.I often sing songs while I take a shower. *孩子 喜欢 一边 吃饭， 一边 玩。Háizi xǐhuan yībiān chīfàn, yībiān wán.Children like to play while eating. *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 music while doing homework? *我们 一边 走 一边 聊 吧。Wǒmen yībiān zǒu yībiān liáo ba.Let's walk while we talk. *请 你 一边 读 一边 写。Qǐng nǐ yībiān dú yībiān xiě.Please write as you read. *不要 一边 开车， 一边 打电话。Bùyào 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 cell phones while working. *她 常常 一边 做饭，一边 带 孩子。Tā chángcháng yībiān zuòfàn, yībiān dài háizi.She often looks after the baby while cooking food.
You'll notice that the order of the two actions is sometimes different in the original Chinese and the English translations above. This is because the "main" action usually comes second in English (after the "while"), but first in Chinese. For example, "take a shower while singing" sounds strange in English, but "sing while taking a shower" doesn't. 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 [[Expressing "when" with "de shihou"|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) [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)]] (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] * [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (p. 269) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy] [[Category:A2 grammar points]] {{Basic Grammar|一边|A2|一边 + Verb 1， 一边 + Verb 2|不要 一边 说话，一边 吃 东西。|grammar point|ASG2ZC5S}} {{Rel char|边}} {{Similar|Expressing simultaneous actions with "yimian"}} {{Similar|"Along with…" using "suizhe"}} {{Similar|Expressing "when" with "de shihou"}} {{Used for|Referring to simultaneous events}} {{Used for|Indicating conditions}} {{POS|Adverbs}}