一邊一边yìbiān … 一邊一边yìbiān …: Doing Two Things at Once
Use 一邊 yìbiān一边 yìbiān…一邊 yìbiān一边 yìbiān… to say someone is doing two things at the same time, on purpose: “listening to music while writing,” “singing while showering.” Both actions are equally important.
You can drop 一 and just say 邊 biān边 biān…邊 biān边 biān…. It’s a shorter version, and the meaning is basically the same.
哥哥總是总是邊边洗澡邊边唱歌
My older brother always sings in the shower.
你不可以邊边吃飯吃饭邊边寫写作業作业
You can’t do your homework while you eat.
邊边開車开车邊边打電話打电话是一件危險危险的事
Talking on the phone while driving is dangerous.
你邊边吃雞排鸡排邊边喝珍珠奶茶，太可惡可恶了！
Fried chicken AND bubble tea? Ugh, I’m so jealous!
可惡可恶 kěwù可惡 kěwù可恶 kěwù literally means “hateful” or “annoying,” and you can use it when you’re truly frustrated, like when someone cuts in line: 太可惡了！太可恶了！
But it’s also used playfully to mean “I’m so jealous!” If a friend posts photos of all her fancy birthday presents, you could comment 可惡！好羨慕！ Kěwù! Hǎo xiànmù!可恶！好羡慕！ Kěwù! Hǎo xiànmù! 😤
三 Two Short Verbs: 邊边 V 邊边 V
Subject + 邊边 + Verb + 邊边 + Verb
With 邊 biān边 biān…邊 biān边 biān…, you can also use two short verbs with no objects, when everyone already knows what’s being talked about.
我們我们邊边說说邊边笑
We laughed as we talked.
他們他们邊边走邊边吃
They ate as they walked.
四一邊一边 vs. 的時候的时候
一邊 yìbiān一边 yìbiān…一邊 yìbiān一边 yìbiān… is for two things one person does on purpose at the same time. If one thing just happens while something else is going on, use 的時候 de shíhòu的时候 de shíhou instead.
一邊⋯一邊一边⋯一边 · both on purpose
我一邊一边洗澡一邊一边唱歌
I choose to do both at once.
的時候的时候 · something happens
我洗澡的時候的时候，電話电话響响了
The phone ringing wasn’t planned. It just happened while I was showering.
五 Common Mistakes
❌ 我一邊一边洗澡一邊一边電話电话響响了
✅ 我洗澡的時候的时候，電話电话響响了
The phone ringing isn’t something you’re doing, so you can’t use 一邊 yìbiān一边 yìbiān. Use 的時候 de shíhòu的时候 de shíhou.
❌ 一邊一边我吃飯吃饭一邊一边看電視电视
✅ 我一邊一边吃飯吃饭一邊一边看電視电视
The subject comes first, then 一邊 yìbiān一边 yìbiān.
❌ 我一邊一边吃飯吃饭看電視电视
✅ 我一邊一边吃飯吃饭一邊一边看電視电视
Don’t forget the second 一邊 yìbiān一边 yìbiān!
六 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
They’re dancing and singing at the same time.
Tap words below to build the sentence
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他們他们一邊一边跳舞一邊一边唱歌
Swapping the two actions is also correct.
Two things at once, both on purpose. 💃
They’re talking as they work.
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她們她们邊边說说邊边做
Swapping the two verbs is also correct.
Two short verbs with 邊 biān边 biān…邊 biān边 biān….
He’s drinking red wine in the shower.
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他一邊一边洗澡一邊一边喝紅酒红酒
Swapping the two actions is also correct.
Living his best life. 🍷
“My mom watches TV while she cooks.”
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我媽媽妈妈一邊一边做飯做饭一邊一边看電視电视
Swapping the two actions is also correct.
一邊 yìbiān一边 yìbiān before each action.
“Don’t look at your phone while you walk.”
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不要邊边走路邊边看手機手机
Swapping the two actions is also correct.
不要 búyào goes before the first 邊 biān边 biān.
“He drinks coffee while he reads the newspaper.”
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他一邊一边看報紙报纸一邊一边喝咖啡
Swapping the two actions is also correct.
Two relaxed morning activities. ☕
“We chatted as we ate.”
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我們我们邊边吃邊边聊
Swapping the two verbs is also correct.
Short verbs, no objects needed.
“She’s working while studying for a master’s degree.”
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她一邊一边工作一邊一边念碩士硕士
Swapping the two actions is also correct.
Juggling two things over a period of time.
“When I was taking a shower, someone knocked on the door.”
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我洗澡的時候的时候，有人敲門敲门
The knock just happened, so use 的時候 de shíhòu的时候 de shíhou. The 一邊 yìbiān一边 yìbiān tile is a trap.
“The teacher writes on the board while she explains.”
