“便” (biàn)

Word: 便 (biàn)

1. As an adverb: “then / right after / just”

It shows that something happens immediately or naturally after another action — often in formal or written Chinese.

Structure:

Subject + 一 + action A + 便 + action B
→ As soon as A happens, B follows.

Examples:

• 他一回家便开始做饭。
  → As soon as he got home, he started cooking.

• 你说完话便走了。
  → You left right after you finished speaking.

2. As a conjunction: “thus / so / then”

It connects two actions or clauses, similar to “therefore” or “so” in English. Again, this is formal or literary.

Examples:

• 我们找不到他，便去警察局报案了。
  → We couldn’t find him, so we reported it to the police.

• 她便答应了这个请求。
  → She then agreed to the request.

3. As an intensifier: “just / exactly / precisely”

Used to emphasize something, much like saying “right at” or “exactly”.

Examples:

• 这便是我要找的人。
  → This is exactly the person I’m looking for.

• 你便是我们的希望。
  → You are our hope.

4. Set phrases & Classical expressions

• 即便 (jí biàn) = even if
  → 即便失败了，我也不会放弃。
  → Even if I fail, I won’t give up.

• 便是 (biàn shì) = even if / precisely is
  → 这便是命运。
  → This is destiny.

5. Difference from 就 (jiù)

Both 便 and 就 can mean “then / right after,” but:

• 就 is more common and spoken

• 便 is more formal / literary

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