tiện bề
Definition
- Adverbial phrase:
- For convenience / conveniently: Used to indicate that an action is done because it is opportune, suitable, or convenient in a given situation, often taking advantage of an existing circumstance.
- While one is at it / at the same time: Used to suggest doing an additional action because the situation makes it easy or logical to do so.
Usage Examples
- Adverbial phrase:
- Anh đến thăm thành phố, tiện bề ghé qua nhà tôi chơi. (He was visiting the city, and for convenience, he dropped by my house.)
- Đi chợ, tiện bề mua luôn ít hoa quả. (Going to the market, I might as well buy some fruit while I'm at it.)
- Công ty cử tôi đi công tác, tiện bề tôi sẽ thăm đối tác cũ. (The company sent me on a business trip, so conveniently, I will visit an old partner.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often implies a pragmatic or opportunistic approach, where a secondary action is efficiently added to a primary one.
- It can be used to politely suggest or propose an action that logically follows from the current situation.
- Chúng ta đã họp xong, tiện bề cùng nhau ăn trưa luôn nhé? (We've finished the meeting, shall we have lunch together while we're at it?)
Variants and Related Words
Tiện thể (adverbial phrase): has a very similar meaning and is often used interchangeably with "tiện bề," though "tiện thể" can sometimes sound slightly more casual.
- Tiện thể, anh có thể gửi giúp tôi bức thư này không? (By the way / While you're at it, could you mail this letter for me?)
Tiện đây (adverbial phrase): used to mean "while here/on this topic" or "since we're on the subject."
- Tiện đây, tôi xin thông báo một việc. (While we're here, let me announce something.)
Synonyms
- Conveniently: in a way that fits well with a situation.
- Opportunely: at a particularly appropriate time.
- While one is at it: used when doing something additional in the same context.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Tiện tay: literally "convenient hand," meaning to do something effortlessly as a side action.
- Thấy rác trên bàn, tôi tiện tay vứt đi. (Seeing trash on the table, I conveniently threw it away.)
- Một công đôi việc: an idiom meaning "to kill two birds with one stone," which shares the underlying concept of efficiency found in "tiện bề."
- Đi đường này vừa nhanh vừa tiện bề thăm bạn, đúng là một công đôi việc. (Taking this route is faster and convenient for visiting a friend; it's truly killing two birds with one stone.)