…
Breakdown of tā yìbiān zuò fàn, yìbiān gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.
她tā
she
打电话dǎdiànhuà
to make a phone call
给gěi
to
妈妈māma
mom
做饭zuòfàn
to cook
一边yìbiān
at the same time
Questions & Answers about tā yìbiān zuò fàn, yìbiān gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.
What does the structure 一边…一边… do, and do I have to repeat 一边?
It marks two actions happening at the same time with the same subject. In the canonical pattern you put 一边 before both verbs: 她一边做饭，一边给妈妈打电话. You can also say 她一边做饭，还给妈妈打电话, but don’t leave the second part without any linker.
Can I drop the comma?
Yes. The comma just marks a natural pause. Both 她一边做饭一边给妈妈打电话 and 她一边做饭，一边给妈妈打电话 are acceptable.
Can I use 在/正在 with 一边?
It’s usually unnecessary and can feel redundant. If you do use it, attach it to a verb phrase: 她一边做饭，一边在给妈妈打电话 or 她一边在做饭，一边打电话. Don’t say 她在一边做饭…; 在 should modify the verb, not 一边.
Why is it 给妈妈打电话 and not 打妈妈电话?
打电话 is a verb–object unit (“make a phone call”). The recipient is introduced with 给 (“to”): 给妈妈打电话 or 打电话给妈妈. Saying 打妈妈电话 incorrectly treats 妈妈 as the object of 打.
Is 给 here the verb “to give”?
No. Here 给 functions as a coverb/preposition meaning “to/for” (marking the recipient). The main verb is 打 in 打电话.
Is 打电话给妈妈 equally correct?
Yes. Mainland usage tends to prefer 给妈妈打电话; Taiwan usage commonly has 打电话给妈妈. Both are fine and widely understood.
Can I just say 打给妈妈?
Colloquially, yes, with 电话 omitted: 我等会儿打给妈妈. In careful writing, keep 电话: 打电话给妈妈 or 给妈妈打电话.
Do I need to say 她的妈妈?
Not if it’s obvious the mother belongs to the subject. With close family terms, Chinese often omits the possessor: 给妈妈打电话. If ambiguity is possible, add it: 给她妈妈打电话.
Should I repeat the subject after the comma?
No. The subject applies to both parts: 她一边做饭，一边给妈妈打电话. Don’t say 她一边做饭，一边她给妈妈打电话.
Where do time/place words go?
After the subject and before the verbs: 她今天在厨房一边做饭，一边给妈妈打电话.
Can the two actions have different subjects?
No. 一边…一边… requires the same subject for both actions. If subjects differ, recast: 她做饭的时候，妈妈给她打电话 or 她做饭，同时妈妈给她打电话.
Can I use 着 to show ongoing action?
Yes. The pattern V1着，V2 means “do V2 while V1 is ongoing”: 她做着饭，给妈妈打电话. You can also say 她一边做饭，一边打着电话. One marker of ongoing action is enough—don’t overmark both verbs unless you have a reason.
Can I use a resultative like 做好(饭) in this pattern?
No. 做好 implies a completed result, which clashes with the idea of two ongoing actions. Use plain/durative verbs for 一边…一边…. If completion matters, sequence it: 她做好饭以后，给妈妈打电话.
What’s the difference between 做饭、做菜、煮饭、烧饭?
- 做饭: cook (a meal) in general; most neutral.
- 做菜: cook dishes (focus on the dishes).
- 煮饭: cook rice; regionally can mean “cook a meal,” but in standard Mandarin usually rice.
- 烧饭: regional (esp. southern), “to cook.”
Can I use 又…又… instead?
No for actions. 又…又… typically links two simultaneous qualities/states (often adjectives): 她又累又饿. For two actions, use 一边…一边…, 同时, or V1着，V2.
Is 边…边… or 一面…一面… okay?
Yes.
- Colloquial/concise: 她边做饭边打电话.
- More written/literary: 她一面做饭，一面打电话. Meaning is the same as 一边…一边….
Any pronunciation tips here?
- 一边: 一 is pronounced yì (fourth tone) here: yìbiān (tone-change rule).
- 妈妈: māma; the second syllable is usually neutral tone.
- 给: gěi (third tone). 打电话: dǎ diànhuà.
Do I ever need a measure word for “phone call”?
When counting: 打了一个电话/打了一通电话. With a recipient: 给妈妈打了一个电话 or 打了通电话给妈妈 (the latter phrasing is more Taiwan-style).
Can I change the order to highlight one action?
Yes. Word order can shift focus:
- Neutral: 她一边做饭，一边给妈妈打电话.
- Emphasize calling: 她一边给妈妈打电话，一边做饭.
Chinese doesn’t usually have spaces—why are there spaces/braces here?
They’re just for teaching segmentation and pinyin. In normal writing you’d see: 她一边做饭，一边给妈妈打电话.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How do tones work in Chinese?”
Mandarin Chinese has four main tones plus a neutral tone. The same syllable can mean completely different things depending on the tone — for example, "mā" (mother), "má" (hemp), "mǎ" (horse), and "mà" (scold). Mastering tones is essential for being understood.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning ChineseMaster Chinese — from tā yìbiān zuò fàn, yìbiān gěi māma dǎ diànhuà to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions