Chinese word

便

Pronunciation

Pinyinbiàn

Meaning

  • adverbright away

Example

他一听到声音，便跑了出去。tā yì tīng dào shēng yīn biàn pǎo le chū qù

He heard the sound and ran outside right away.

Illustration for 便 (right away)

More examples

会议结束后，他便离开了。huì yì jié shù hòu tā biàn lí kāi le

After the meeting ended, he left right away.

Core concept

Connects an event directly to the response that comes after it, with the response taking place promptly.

Common phrases

  • 便离开biàn lí kāi

    leave right away

  • 便开始biàn kāi shǐ

    start right away

  • 便发现biàn fā xiàn

    notice right away

Similar words

立刻lì kè: Emphasizes that an action or change begins right away.
马上mǎ shàng: Emphasizes that the next action or event starts without waiting.
立即lì jí: Emphasizes immediate action or treatment without hesitation.
随即suí jí: Emphasizes that one event follows another without delay.

Definition in Chinese

通常作副词，指出现某种情况后随即发生的动作或反应，可见于“一……便……”或“便+动词”的结构，语气偏正式但可用于强调迅速反应。tōng cháng zuò fù cí zhǐ chū xiàn móu zhǒng qíng kuàng hòu suí jí fā shēng de dòng zuò huò fǎn yìng kě jiàn yú yī biàn huò biàn dòng cí de jié gòu yǔ qì piān zhèng shì dàn kě yòng yú qiáng diào xùn sù fǎn yìng

Word origin

便 (biàn, "then") retains a classical adverbial use in which one event leads straight into the next, giving the word both sequence and immediacy.

Usage tips

  • This word often sounds more formal than ordinary spoken alternatives, so it commonly appears in narratives, announcements, and careful speech while still highlighting a quick reaction.

Other meanings

  • thenconjunction

Opposites

  • 缓慢地huǎn màn dìslowlyadverb

Related words

Word lists with this word