一边⋯⋯一边⋯⋯

yì biān …… yì biān ……

Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"

一边…一边… is doing two things at the same time.

一边 + Verb 1,一边 + Verb 2

How it works

不要一边说话,一边吃东西 — don't talk with your mouth full. Each verb gets its own 一边.

In speech it's often shortened to 边…边…: 边走边说.

Both actions must be things you can genuinely do at once, and the subject is the same for both.

Examples

  • bú yào yì biān shuō huà, yì biān chī dōng xi

    不要一边说话,一边吃东西。

    Don't talk while you're eating.

  • tā yì biān gōng zuò, yì biān tīng yīn yuè

    他一边工作,一边听音乐。

    He listens to music while he works.

  • wǒ men biān zǒu biān shuō

    我们边走边说。

    Let's talk as we walk.