AdverbsHSK 5
Expressing "while you're at it" with 顺便
Use 顺便 to indicate that you can conveniently do a second action while you are already doing something else. The first action is stated first, often with 的时候, and 顺便 links to the additional action. A common mistake is putting 顺便 before the first action instead of between the two.
Structure
Subj. + Verb Phrase 1，顺便 + Verb Phrase 2
Examples
- 你去买早饭的时候顺便帮我带杯咖啡吧。Nǐ qù mǎi zǎofàn de shíhou shùnbiàn bāng wǒ dài bēi kāfēi ba.When you go out to get breakfast can you also bring me a cup of coffee?
- 你去超市能不能顺便帮我买一瓶牛奶？Nǐ qù chāoshì néng bu néng shùnbiàn bāng wǒ mǎi yī píng niúnǎi?Could you pick me up a bottle of milk while you're at the supermarket?
- 老板去见客户，顺便吃了午饭。Lǎobǎn qù jiàn kèhù, shùnbiàn chī le wǔfàn.The boss went to see the client and also ate lunch while he was at it.
- 我下周去北京出差，顺便去看一个朋友。Wǒ xià zhōu qù Běijīng chūchāi, shùnbiàn qù kàn yī gè péngyou.I'm going to Beijing on a business trip next week. I'll go to visit a friend while I'm there.
- 我出门的时候都会顺便扔垃圾。Wǒ chūmén de shíhou dōu huì shùnbiàn rēng lājī.I take the trash out as I leave the house.