一边是…，一边是…
on one side …, on the other … (two contrasting scenes or facts)
Structure
一边是 情景 A ， 一边是 情景 B
What it means
“On one side …, on the other …”: sets two contrasting scenes or facts side by side so the contrast, contradiction or irony speaks for itself.
How it is built
一边是 + noun phrase or short clause，一边是 + noun phrase or clause (+ comment): 一边是清静的禅房，一边是热闹的商铺 (quiet meditation halls on one side, busy shops on the other).
When to use it
A favourite of features and commentary, common in speech too. Unlike 一边…一边… (one person doing two things at once), it contrasts scenes. For two sides of an argument use 一方面…，另一方面….
Watch out
Keep 是 before a noun phrase: ✗ 一边清静的禅房，一边热闹的商铺. Not for one person’s two actions: ✗ 他一边是吃饭，一边是看书 ✓ 他一边吃饭，一边看书.
Examples
走进景区，一边是清静的禅房，一边是热闹的商铺。
Step into the scenic area and on one side are the quiet meditation halls, on the other the busy shops.
一边是房价年年上涨，一边是工资多年不变，年轻人只好一直租房。
House prices go up every year while wages stay the same for years, so young people have no choice but to keep renting.
一边是仓库里堆成山的货，一边是买不到东西的顾客，问题显然出在物流上。
Goods pile up in the warehouse while customers cannot buy anything: the problem is clearly in the logistics.
Learn this in Lesson 244 · HSK 9+: 少林寺 (The Shaolin Temple)
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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