Usage note
顺便表示做另一件方便的事。
shùn biàn biǎo shì zuò lìng yí jiàn fāng biàn de shì。
By the way means doing another convenient thing.
Context note
顺便常用于出门、说话和安排。
shùn biàn cháng yòng yú chū mén 、 shuō huà hé ān pái。
By the way often appears with going out, speaking, and planning.
5 examples
我顺便去买菜。
wǒ shùn biàn qù mǎi cài。
I will buy vegetables on the way.
顺便告诉他一声。
shùn biàn gào sù tā yì shēng。
Tell him by the way.
你顺便帮我拿一下。
nǐ shùn biàn bāng wǒ ná yí xià。
Please help me take it along the way.
我顺便问了老师。
wǒ shùn biàn wèn le lǎo shī。
I asked the teacher by the way.
出门时顺便带伞。
chū mén shí shùn biàn dài sǎn。
Take an umbrella by the way when you go out.
5 mini stories
我去学校，顺便去超市买水。
wǒ qù xué xiào， shùn biàn qù chāo shì mǎi shuǐ。
I went to school and bought water at the supermarket on the way.
他顺便把信送给老师。
tā shùn biàn bǎ xìn sòng gěi lǎo shī。
He delivered the letter to the teacher by the way.
妈妈说顺便把门关上。
mā ma shuō shùn biàn bǎ mén guān shàng。
Mom said to close the door while you are at it.
下楼时顺便拿一下快递。
xià lóu shí shùn biàn ná yí xià kuài dì。
Pick up the package on the way downstairs.
我们顺便聊了几句。
wǒ men shùn biàn liáo le jǐ jù。
We chatted a little by the way.
Mini dialogue
去超市
A
我去超市买水果，你顺便要带什么吗？
Wǒ qù chāoshì mǎi shuǐguǒ, nǐ shùnbiàn yào dài shénme ma?
I'm going to the supermarket to buy fruit. Do you need me to bring anything by the way?
B
太好了，顺便帮我买一瓶牛奶吧。
Tài hǎo le, shùnbiàn bāng wǒ mǎi yī píng niúnǎi ba.
Great, please buy a bottle of milk for me by the way.
路过邮局
A
我放学路过邮局，顺便寄了这封信。
Wǒ fàngxué lùguò yóujú, shùnbiàn jì le zhè fēng xìn.
I passed the post office after school and mailed this letter by the way.
B
你真会利用时间，顺便就把事情办了。
Nǐ zhēn huì lìyòng shíjiān, shùnbiàn jiù bǎ shìqíng bàn le.
You really know how to use your time, getting things done conveniently.
Related words and contrasts
similar
顺便问一下
shùn biàn wèn yī xià
by the way, may I ask
A polite phrase to add a question while on the topic.
related
方便
fāng biàn
convenient
Describes a situation that is easy or suitable.