一面 yímiàn one side
one side; one aspect; simultaneously... (and...); one's whole face
How to remember 一面: 一 one + 面 face = one side.
Characters
How it is used
- Three uses. (1) 'one side/aspect': 事情的另一面 (shìqing de lìng yímiàn) the other side of the matter. (2) 'a brief meeting': 见过一面 (jiànguo yímiàn) to have met once; 一面之交 (yímiàn zhī jiāo) a passing acquaintance. (3) Paired 一面…一面… = doing two things at once: 一面走一面说 (yímiàn zǒu yímiàn shuō) talking while walking.
- The 一面…一面… simultaneity frame is high-frequency and equivalent to 一边…一边….
- Context disambiguates; all three are common.