Meaning of 一边
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- one side
- either side
- on the one hand
- on the other hand
- doing while
How to use 一边
As a noun, 一边 means one side, as in 站在一边 (zhàn zài yībiān, stand to one side). Its most common use is the pattern 一边A一边B, meaning doing A while doing B. Example: 他一边吃饭一边看电视。(Tā yībiān chī fàn yībiān kàn diànshì.) He watches TV while eating.
一 (yī) means one and 边 (biān) means side or edge, so 一边 is literally "one side." Picture yourself standing on one side of a road, then stepping to the other side to do a second thing at the same time.
Common mistake: Learners often write 一边 only once, as in 他一边吃饭看电视. The pattern needs 一边 before each verb. Also, 一 changes tone here and is usually said yìbiān in speech, because it comes before a first tone syllable.
一边 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
一 yī · one · 1 strokes
- 1
边 biān · side · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 一边.
| 一起 | yīqǐ | (in) the same place; together; in company (with) |
| 一样 | yīyàng | same; like |
| 一些 | yīxiē | some; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...er |
| 那边 | nàbiān | over there; yonder |
| 这边 | zhèbiān | this side; here |
| 一会儿 | yīhuìr | a moment; a while |
| 一半 | yībàn | half |
| 旁边 | pángbiān | side; adjacent place |
| 左边 | zuǒbian | left; the left side |
| 右边 | yòubian | right side; right, to the right |
| 一点儿 | yīdiǎnr | erhua variant of 一點|一点[yi1 dian3] |
| 一块儿 | yīkuàir | erhua variant of 一塊|一块[yi1 kuai4] |
Questions about 一边
What does 一边 mean?
一边 (yībiān) means "one side; either side" and is used as a noun and adverb.
How do you write 一边?
一边 is made of 2 characters: 一 (1 strokes), 边 (5 strokes). That is 6 strokes in total.
Is 一边 an HSK word?
Yes. 一边 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 一边 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 一边 is written 一邊.
Can I shorten 一边...一边... to 边...边...?
Yes. 边...边... is a shorter form common with short one-syllable verbs, like 边走边说 (biān zǒu biān shuō, talk while walking). It sounds a bit more compact and casual.
What is the difference between 一边...一边... and 同时 (tóngshí)?
一边...一边... is for one person doing two actions at once, usually ongoing activities. 同时 means at the same time more generally and can link events, people, or ideas, like 同时发生 (happen at the same time).