便

biàn

HSK 5

便 — biàn

1. plain; simple; not fancy

   他平时穿着很便，从不追求名牌。 tā píngshí chuānzhe hěn biàn cóng bù zhuīqiú míngpái — He usually dresses very plainly and never chases brand names.

2. informal; casual (not formal)

   今天的聚会是便宴，穿便服来就行。 jīntiān de jùhuì shì biànyàn chuān biànfú lái jiù xíng — Today's gathering is an informal dinner; just come in casual clothes.

3. convenient; suitable; opportune

   你什么时候有便就过来一趟。 nǐ shénme shíhòu yǒu biàn jiù guòlái yītàng — Come by whenever it's convenient for you.

4. to urinate or defecate (colloquial)

   孩子要便了，赶快带他去厕所。 háizi yào biàn liǎo gǎnkuài dài tā qù cèsuǒ — The child needs to go (to pee/poo), quickly take him to the toilet.

5. equivalent to 就 (jiù): then; in that case; even if; soon afterwards (used to link clauses)

   如果你不去，那我便自己去。 rúguǒ nǐ bù qù nà wǒ biàn zìjǐ qù — If you don't go, then I'll go myself.

便 — pián

1. bound morpheme appearing only in compounds (e.g., 便宜 piányi 'cheap', 便便 biànbiàn 'poo', 便嬛 Piàn Xuān proper name)

   这家超市的水果很便宜。 zhèjiā chāoshì de shuǐguǒ hěn piányi — The fruit at this supermarket is very cheap.