Chinese word

顺便

Pronunciation

Pinyinshùn biàn

Meaning

  • adverbwhile at it

Example

我顺便带了伞。wǒ shùn biàn dài le sǎn

I also brought an umbrella along.

Illustration for 顺便 (while at it)

More examples

下班回家时，我顺便买了点东西。xià bān huí jiā shí wǒ shùn biàn mǎi le diǎn dōng xī

When I went home from work, I bought some things while I was at it.

Core concept

An existing plan, route, or conversation provides a convenient opening for one small extra task or related remark.

Common phrases

  • 顺便买点东西shùn biàn mái diǎn dōng xī

    buy some things while at it

  • 顺便带伞shùn biàn dài sǎn

    take an umbrella along while at it

  • 顺便看一下shùn biàn kàn yí xià

    check while at it

Similar words

随手suí shǒu: Doing something casually as part of another movement, with little deliberate thought.
顺手shùn shǒu: Doing something with little effort when time or opportunity is readily available.
顺带shùn dài: Including an extra action or remark together with the main action or statement.
顺路shùn lù: Doing something extra during a journey when it is on the way to the destination.

Definition in Chinese

趁着做别的事的机会，顺路或方便地完成附带的动作或顺带说明。chèn zhe zuò bié de shì de jī huì shùn lù huò fāng biàn dì wán chéng fù dài de dòng zuò huò shùn dài shuō míng

Word origin

顺 (shùn, "along") + 便 (biàn, "convenient") joins the ideas of following an existing path and using an easy opportunity for an added action or comment.

Usage tips

  • In spoken Chinese, this adverb often comes before the extra verb or comment, marking it as a light addition rather than the main purpose of the conversation.

Other meanings

  • by the wayadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word