Usage note
随便表示不严格，也表示按自己喜欢。
suí biàn biǎo shì bù yán gé， yě biǎo shì àn zì jǐ xǐ huan。
Casual means not strict, and can also mean as one likes.
Context note
随便常用于口语和选择。
suí biàn cháng yòng yú kǒu yǔ hé xuǎn zé。
Casual is often used in spoken language and choices.
5 examples
你随便坐。
nǐ suí biàn zuò。
Sit anywhere you like.
不要随便说话。
bú yào suí biàn shuō huà。
Do not speak carelessly.
我随便看看。
wǒ suí biàn kàn kàn。
I am just looking around.
随便吃一点吧。
suí biàn chī yì diǎn ba。
Just eat a little casually.
这个问题不能随便答。
zhè ge wèn tí bù néng suí biàn dá。
This question cannot be answered carelessly.
5 mini stories
进门后，你可以随便坐。
jìn mén hòu， nǐ kě yǐ suí biàn zuò。
After entering, you can sit anywhere you like.
老师说不要随便离开座位。
lǎo shī shuō bú yào suí biàn lí kāi zuò wèi。
The teacher said not to leave your seat casually.
我随便挑了一本书。
wǒ suí biàn tiāo le yì běn shū。
I picked a book casually.
他随便说了一句话。
tā suí biàn shuō le yí jù huà。
He casually said a sentence.
吃饭时不要随便浪费。
chī fàn shí bú yào suí biàn làng fèi。
Do not waste food casually when eating.
Mini dialogue
吃什么
A
晚饭你想吃什么？
Wǎnfàn nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?
What do you want to eat for dinner?
B
随便，你选吧。
Suíbiàn, nǐ xuǎn ba.
Whatever you like, you choose.
选颜色
A
你想要红色的还是蓝色的？
Nǐ xiǎng yào hóngsè de háishì lánsè de?
Do you want the red one or the blue one?
B
随便，哪个都行。
Suíbiàn, nǎge dōu xíng.
It doesn't matter, either is fine.
Related words and contrasts
similar
随意
suíyì
as one pleases; at will
Very similar meaning, often interchangeable.
opposite
认真
rènzhēn
serious; earnest
The opposite of a casual attitude.
contrast
方便
fāngbiàn
convenient
随便 means 'as one wishes', while 方便 means 'convenient'. Learners often confuse them.