adv.
at the same time; simultaneously
一边
at the same time; simultaneously
Adverb meaning 'on one hand / simultaneously' (一 one + 边 side); paired as 一边……一边…… to describe parallel actions.
Common Usage & Traps
- 一边吃饭，一边聊天 — eat and chat at the same time
- 一边走，一边看手机 — walk and look at your phone at the same time
- 一边听音乐，一边做作业 — listen to music and do homework at the same time
- 一边喝茶，一边看表演 — drink tea and watch a performance at the same time
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我一边喝茶，他一边看表演我喝茶的时候，他在看表演一边...一边... usually means one person does both actions. For two different people, use 的时候.
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我一边很忙，一边看电视我一边忙工作，一边看电视很忙 is not an action. Both sides of 一边 need actions you do.
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她一边漂亮，一边聪明她又漂亮又聪明一边 is for actions happening together. Use 又...又... for two qualities.
Can you say 我一边喝茶，他一边看表演?
No. 一边...一边... means one person does two actions at once.
English while I drink tea, he watches a show splits the actions between two people. Chinese 一边...一边... normally keeps both actions with the same person. If two people are doing different things, use 的时候 instead.
“因为在那儿可以一边喝茶，一边看表演，看唱歌、跳舞什么的。” (Because there you can drink tea while watching performances like singing, dancing, and so on.)
“因为在那儿可以一边喝茶，一边看表演，看唱歌、跳舞什么的。” (Because there you can drink tea while watching performances like singing, dancing, and so on.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the actions? | 我一边喝茶，一边看表演。 | 我一边喝茶，他一边看表演。 |
| Two people, different actions | 我喝茶的时候，他在看表演。 | 我一边喝茶，他一边看表演。 |
Can you say 我一边很忙，一边看电视?
No. Both parts of 一边 need actions, not a busy feeling.
很忙 describes your situation, not something you do. 一边 connects two actions you can perform at the same time. Say 我一边忙工作，一边看电视, or better, 我一边做事，一边看电视.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| What goes after 一边? | 我一边忙工作，一边看电视。 | 我一边很忙，一边看电视。 |
| State vs action | 我一边做事，一边听音乐。 | 我一边很累，一边听音乐。 |
Why does 一边漂亮，一边聪明 sound wrong when 又漂亮又聪明 works?
Use 一边 for actions at the same time; use 又 for two qualities.
又漂亮又聪明 describes two traits of one person. 一边漂亮，一边聪明 sounds like beauty and smartness are actions happening together. Use 又...又... for describing traits, and 一边...一边... for two actions.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| What are you combining? | 她又漂亮又聪明。 | 她一边漂亮，一边聪明。 |
Appears in Stories 2 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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结果第二天对方笑着砍了他五个点的价， 一边 还看着他眼睛说，看你昨天吃东西的样子就知道你这人没坏心眼，肯定没跟我们要高价，就便宜百分之五吧。
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
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因为在那儿可以 一边 喝茶， 一边 看表演，看唱歌、跳舞什么的。
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