Chinese vocabulary list: How to use 方便 (fāngbiàn) ‘convenient’ and 顺便 (shùnbiàn) ‘in passing’ in Mandarin Chinese

这里的交通很方便。

Zhèlǐ de jiāotōng hěn fāngbiàn.

The transport here is very convenient.

网上订票真方便。

Wǎngshàng dìngpiào zhēn fāngbiàn.

Booking tickets online is really convenient.

这个地方太不方便了。

Zhège dìfang tài bù fāngbiànle.

This place is so inconvenient.

手机给我们带来了很多方便。

Shǒujī gěi wǒmen dàiláile hěn duō fāngbiàn.

Mobile phones have brought us a lot of convenience.

这样做是为了方便大家。

Zhèyàng zuò shì wèile fāngbiàn dàjiā.

This is done to make things easier for everyone.

我想去方便一下。

Wǒ xiǎng qù fāngbiàn yíxià.

I'd like to go to the toilet.

你现在方便说话吗？

Nǐ xiànzài fāngbiàn shuōhuà ma?

Is it convenient for you to talk right now?

明天下午你方便吗？

Míngtiān xiàwǔ nǐ fāngbiàn ma?

Is tomorrow afternoon convenient for you?

周末对我不太方便。

Zhōumò duì wǒ bú tài fāngbiàn.

Weekends aren't very convenient for me.

要是对你们方便的话，我们六点见。

Yàoshi duì nǐmen fāngbiàn dehuà, wǒmen liù diǎn jiàn.

If it suits you, let's meet at six.

我去市里买东西的时候，顺便把衣服退了。

Wǒ qù shìlǐ mǎi dōngxi de shíhou, shùnbiàn bǎ yīfu tuìle.

When I went into town to go shopping, I also returned those clothes.

他来上海开会，顺便看了看老同学。

Tā lái Shànghǎi kāihuì, shùnbiàn kànle kàn lǎo tóngxué.

He came to Shanghai for a meeting and visited an old classmate while he was there.

下班回家的路上，我顺便取了快递。

Xiàbān huíjiā de lùshang, wǒ shùnbiàn qǔle kuàidì.

On the way home from work, I collected a parcel as well.

顺便说一下，我明天不上班。

Shùnbiàn shuō yíxià, wǒ míngtiān bú shàngbān.

By the way, I'm not working tomorrow.

你去食堂的话，顺便帮我带杯咖啡吧。

Nǐ qù shítáng dehuà, shùnbiàn bāng wǒ dài bēi kāfēi ba.

If you're going to the canteen, could you get me a coffee?

你去楼下的话，顺便帮我扔一下垃圾。

Nǐ qù lóuxià dehuà, shùnbiàn bāng wǒ rēng yíxià lājī.

If you're going downstairs, throw out the rubbish for me.

你路过邮局的话，顺便帮我寄封信。

Nǐ lùguò yóujú dehuà, shùnbiàn bāng wǒ jì fēng xìn.

If you pass the post office, post a letter for me.

见到你妈妈，顺便替我问个好。

Jiàndào nǐ māma, shùnbiàn tì wǒ wèn gè hǎo.

When you see your mum, say hello from me.

你方便的话，帮我买瓶水吧。

Nǐ fāngbiàn dehuà, bāng wǒ mǎi píng shuǐba.

If it's convenient, could you buy me a bottle of water?

你去超市的话，顺便帮我买瓶水吧。

Nǐ qù chāoshì dehuà, shùnbiàn bāng wǒ mǎi píng shuǐba.

If you're going to the supermarket, could you buy me a bottle of water?

我是顺便来看你的。

Wǒ shì shùnbiàn láikàn nǐ de.

I just dropped in to see you while I was around.

我是特意来看你的。

Wǒ shì tèyì láikàn nǐ de.

I came specifically to see you.