顺便 shùnbiàn conveniently
conveniently; in passing; on the way
How to remember 顺便: 顺 to submit to + 便 convenient = conveniently.
Characters
How it is used
- 'While at it / on the way / in passing' - doing something extra without special effort - 顺便买点菜 (shùnbiàn mǎi diǎn cài) pick up some groceries on the way; 顺便问一下 (shùnbiàn wèn yíxià) by the way, let me ask.
- Adverb before the verb; implies the action piggybacks on something you're already doing.
- Common softener for a small request or an aside: 顺便说一句 (shùnbiàn shuō yí jù) incidentally.
Example sentences
- 顺便问一句，你今晚有空吗？ Shùnbiàn wèn yījù, nǐ jīnwǎn yǒukòng ma?By the way, are you free tonight?
- 顺便说一句，你最近见过他吗？ Shùnbiàn shuō yījù, nǐ zuìjìn jiàn guò tā ma?By the way, have you seen him lately?
- 她工作之余顺便在巴黎游玩。 Tā gōngzuò zhī yú shùnbiàn zài Bālí yóuwán.She travels to Paris when she gets time off from work.