Chinese Grammar: Using 一面...一面 to express simultaneous tasks

Do you guys still remember the lesson we’ve learned in world 3 on how to express simultaneous tasks with 一边...一边? If you forgot about it, please check it before we start today’s grammar lesson because what we are going to show you today is similar to 一边...一边.

Rules

Actually, this pattern has the same usage of 一边...一边 to describe simultaneous actions, but 一面...一面 is the formal form of 一边...一边. You can translate it into “meanwhile/ in the meantime” in English.

Structure

一面 + verb + 一面 + verb

Examples

我 一面 吃饭 ， 一面 看 电视。
I like to eat and watch TV at the same time.

他 一面 运动 ， 一面 听 音乐。
He likes doing sports while listening to music.

一面 工作 ， 一面 学习 很 辛苦。
Both working and doing your studies is hard work.

一方面...一方面

This structure is similar to 一方面...一方面 too. If you add a 方 before 面, in Chinese, it means “side/aspect” as 方面. You can consider it as “on the one hand...on the other hand” in English, to express the two aspects of a situation.

When using this pattern, pay attention that these two sides can be similar to each other and can also be the opposition.

Structure

一方面 + Aspect 1 + 一方面 + Aspect 2

Examples

一方面 他 想 去 旅游 ， 一方面 他 又 没有 钱。
On the one hand, he wants to travel, but on the other hand, he doesn’t have enough money.

政府 一方面 要 增加 大学生 就业率 ， 一方面 提升 各 大 高校 的 管理。
On the one hand, the government is increasing the employment rate of college students, on the other hand, it’s going to control the management of colleges and universities.

他 一方面 喜欢 这里 ， 一方面 又 嫌 这里 人 太 多 了。 On the one hand, he likes this place, but on the other hand, he hates how crowded it is.

While 一边...一边 can be shortened as 边...边, this can't be done with 一面...一面. Also, you can’t say 面 说 面 笑, talking while laughing, but you can say: 边 说 边 笑.