一邊/一边 yìbiān - OneDotDot Chinese

Table of Contents

Grammar Point:
The term 一邊一边 yìbiān…一邊一边 yìbiān… is used to express the idea of doing one thing while doing another thing simultaneously, with both actions being intentional. It emphasizes that the two actions are happening at the same time and are equally important. If you want to express that something happened while another thing was happening, you should use the A2 grammar structure 的時候的时候 deshíhou.

Structure

S + 一邊边 yìbiān + VO + 一邊边 yìbiān + VO yìbiān

我wǒ常常chángcháng一邊yìbiān寫xiě中文zhōngwén一邊yìbiān聽tīng音樂yīnyuè我wǒ常常chángcháng一边yìbiān写xiě中文zhōngwén一边yìbiān听tīng音乐yīnyuè
I often listen to music while writing Chinese.

爸爸bàba不bù喜歡xǐhuān我wǒ一邊yìbiān吃飯chīfàn一邊yìbiān說話shuōhuà爸爸bàba不bù喜欢xǐhuan我wǒ一边yìbiān吃饭chīfàn一边yìbiān说话shuōhuà
Dad doesn’t like it when I talk while eating.

你nǐ可以kěyǐ一邊yìbiān看kànInsta 一邊yìbiān上班shàngbān嗎ma？你nǐ可以kěyǐ一边yìbiān看kànInsta 一边yìbiān上班shàngbān吗ma？
Can you scroll Insta while working?

他tā一邊yìbiān要yào工作gōngzuò，一邊yìbiān還hái要yào學xué中文zhōngwén，真的zhēnde太tài累lèi了le！他tā一边yìbiān要yào工作gōngzuò，一边yìbiān还hái要yào学xué中文zhōngwén，真的zhēnde太tài累lèi了le！
He has to work and learn Chinese at the same time. It’s really too tiring!

你nǐ怎麼zěnme可以kěyǐ一邊yìbiān說shuō愛ài我wǒ，一邊yìbiān又yòu和hé前女友qiánnǚyǒu約會yuēhuì！你nǐ怎么zěnme可以kěyǐ一边yìbiān说shuō爱ài我wǒ，一边yìbiān又yòu和hé前女友qiánnǚyǒu约会yuēhuì！
How can you say you love me and date your ex-girlfriend at the same time!

S + 邊边 biān + VO + 邊边 biān + VO

There is not a big difference between this structure and the last one. However, this structure is slightly more formal than the one with 一 yī.

哥哥gēge總是zǒngshì邊biān洗澡xǐzǎo邊biān唱歌chànggē哥哥gēge总是zǒngshì边biān洗澡xǐzǎo边biān唱歌chànggē
My brother always sings while taking a bath.

你nǐ不bù可以kěyǐ邊biān吃飯chīfàn邊biān寫xiě作業zuòyè你nǐ不bù可以kěyǐ边biān吃饭chīfàn边biān写xiě作业zuòyè
You can’t write homework while eating.

邊biān開車kāichē邊biān打電話dǎdiànhuà是shì一yí件jiàn危險wéixiǎn的de事shì边biān开车kāichē边biān打电话dǎdiànhuà是shì一yí件jiàn危险wēixiǎn的de事shì
Driving while talking on the phone is a dangerous thing.

你nǐ邊biān吃chī雞排jīpái邊biān喝hē珍珠奶茶zhēnzhūnǎichá，太tài可惡kěwù了le！你nǐ边biān吃chī鸡排jīpái边biān喝hē珍珠奶茶zhēnzhūnǎichá，太tài可恶kěwù了le！
You eat fried chicken while drinking bubble tea. Dame it! (I envy you.)

FYI
“可惡恶 kěwù” is a Chinese slang phrase that can be translated to “hateful/annoying!” or “Dammit!” It’s a way of expressing extreme frustration or anger towards a situation, behavior, or person. For example, if someone cuts in line or does something selfish, you might say “太可惡恶了!” to show your disapproval and frustration.

The phrase can also be used playfully or exaggeratedly, such as when you’re joking around with friends or exaggerating a situation for effect. For instance, if your friend posts an Instagram photo about the many luxury gifts she received for her birthday, you could comment “可惡恶！好羡慕！” (kěwù! Hǎo xiànmù!) to express your playful envy.