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LEARN + CHINESE / 264 of 300 HSK 7–9

Cook While the Music Plays 一面...一面

Your friend asks how you manage to cook and keep up with your favorite show. You can explain that you do one while doing the other with 一面……一面……. The two actions overlap in time.

她一面做饭，一面听新闻。
tā yímiàn zuò fàn, yímiàn tīng xīnwén.
She cooked while listening to the news.
他一面热情地招呼客人，一面指挥服务员上菜。
tā yímiàn rèqíng de zhāohu kèrén, yímiàn zhǐhuī fúwùyuán shàngcài.
He warmly greeted the guests while simultaneously directing the waiters to serve the dishes.
孩子一面画画，一面跟奶奶讲学校里的事。
háizi yímiàn huà huà, yímiàn gēn nǎinai jiǎng xuéxiào lǐ de shì.
The child drew while telling Grandma what happened at school.
Hint · 힌트
一面……一面…… keeps two actions in view at once. It differs from 先……再……, which puts one action before the next.

Vocabulary

ChineseEnglish
yīmiàn
one side; same time
fúwùyuán
waiter; attendant
zuò fàn
to cook
tīng xīnwén
to listen to the news
kèrén
guest
rèqíng
warm; enthusiastic
píngjìng
calm; quiet
zhāohu
to greet; say hello
zhǐhuī
to command; conductor
fúwù
to serve
shàngcài
to serve dishes
huà huà
to draw; paint
tóngshí
at the same time
nǎinai
grandmother
shìqing
matter; what happened
yímiàn……yímiàn……
while doing one thing, also doing another
xuéxiào
school
jiǎng
to tell; speak
zuò
to do; make
tīng
to listen

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