HSK 3 grammar · new HSK syllabus
一边…一边…: doing two things at once
一边 A 一边 B = do A while doing B: 他一边吃饭一边看电视.
Structure
- Subject + 一边 + verb A，一边 + verb B
How it works
一边…一边… describes two actions happening at the same time by the same person.
Both parts are verbs. The subject goes before the first 一边.
Examples
-
他一边吃饭，一边看电视。
Tā yìbiān chī fàn, yìbiān kàn diànshì.
He watches TV while he eats.
-
我们一边走一边聊天儿。
Wǒmen yìbiān zǒu yìbiān liáotiānr.
We chatted as we walked.
-
她喜欢一边听音乐一边做作业。
Tā xǐhuan yìbiān tīng yīnyuè yìbiān zuò zuòyè.
She likes doing her homework while listening to music.
-
别一边开车一边打电话。
Bié yìbiān kāichē yìbiān dǎdiànhuà.
Don’t talk on the phone while driving.
-
他一边说一边笑。
Tā yìbiān shuō yìbiān xiào.
He laughed as he spoke.
Words in these examples (20)
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 一边 | yìbiān | (一边…一边…) while; at the same time | HSK 3 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 饭 | fàn | meal; cooked rice | HSK 1 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 电视 | diànshì | television; TV | HSK 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 走 | zǒu | to walk; to leave | HSK 2 |
| 聊天儿 | liáotiānr | to chat | HSK 3 |
| 她 | tā | she; her | HSK 1 |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuan | to like | HSK 1 |
| 听 | tīng | to listen; to hear | HSK 1 |
| 音乐 | yīnyuè | music | HSK 3 |
| 做 | zuò | to do; to make | HSK 1 |
| 作业 | zuòyè | homework | HSK 3 |
| 别 | bié | don't | HSK 2 |
| 开车 | kāichē | to drive (a car) | HSK 1 |
| 打电话 | dǎdiànhuà | to make a phone call | HSK 1 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
| 笑 | xiào | to laugh; to smile | HSK 2 |
Common mistakes
-
✗一边他吃饭，一边他看电视。
✓他一边吃饭，一边看电视。
One subject, before the first 一边.
-
✗一边很忙，一边很累。
✓又忙又累。
一边 is for actions; for two qualities, use 又…又….
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 她一边做饭， 唱歌。
2. 我们 喝茶一边聊天儿吧。
3. 这个房间 大又干净。