便（＝就）
then, at once: the written form of the adverb 就
Structure
条件／前一个动作 ， 主语 便 动词
What it means
“Then, at once”: the written form of the adverb 就, linking a condition or an earlier action to what follows.
How it is built
Condition or first action，subject + 便 + verb: 他一到北京便给家里打了电话 (the moment he arrived in Beijing he phoned home). Also 只要…便…, 如果…便….
When to use it
Writing and formal speech; in conversation 就 is normal. It never replaces 就 “only” (就他一个人) or the preposition 就 “concerning” (就这个问题).
Watch out
Never use 便 and 就 together. Don’t confuse this adverb with the 便 of 方便 and 随便, or with 便宜, where 便 is read pián.
Examples
象群快要靠近村子的时候，工作人员便提前疏散村民。
Whenever the herd was about to reach a village, staff would move the villagers out in advance.
他一到北京便给家里打了电话。
The moment he arrived in Beijing he phoned home.
只要每天坚持练习，口语便会越来越好。
As long as you keep practising every day, your spoken Chinese will keep getting better.
Learn this in Lesson 25 · HSK 5: 一路向北的象群 (The elephants that walked north)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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