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.

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 的时候 (de shíhou).

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books