BIAN-4

('bian' in the fourth tone)

便 = convenient, to shit, to urinate

The single-character form is almost never used.

方便 = convenient, shit, urinate

Whether the meaning of the above is associated with excretion entirely depends on the sentence structure.

我要去方便. = Wo(3) yao(4) qu(4) fang(1)bian(4). = I want to go to the toilet. (This can be

for defecation or urination.)

大便 = da(4)bian(4) = to defecate, stool

小便 = xiao(3)bian(4) = to urinate, urin (of humans)

Both terms are not specifically impolite.

At the doctor's office:

我小便很痈. = Wo(3) xiao(3) bian(4) hen(3) tong(4). = When I urinate, it is very painful.

Also at a doctor's offfice:

我已经一个星期不可以大便. = Wo(3) yi(3)jing(-) yi(1)ge(-) xing(1)qi(1)

bu(4) ke(3)yi(3) da(4)bian(4). = Already for one week, I was not able to defecate.

An alternative term for 大便 that actually is used more commonly:

拉屎 = la(1)shi(3) = to defecate

用微波炉更方便. =

Yong(4) wei(1)bo(1) lu(2) geng(4) fang(1)bian(4). = It is more convenient to use a microwave oven.

便利店 = bian(4)li(4) dian(4) = convenience shop (small modern grocery store, often open 24 hours, also selling a variety of fast food)

Related words:

舒服 = shu(1)fu(-) = comfortable

舒适 = shu(1)shi(4) = comfortable

随便 = sui(2) bian(4) = to do as one likes

随便坐 = sui(2) bian(4) zuo(4) = free seating

随便你 = sui(2) bian(4) ni(3) =  up to you

以便 = yi(3)bian(4) = so that

请过来这里以便你可以阅读这个通知! =

Qing(3) guo(4) lai(2) zhe(4)li(3) yi(3)bian(4) ni(3) ke(3)yi(3) yue(4)du(2) zhe(4)ge(-) tong(1)zhi(1)! =

Please come here, so that you can read this notification.

*****

变 = to become, to change into

Usual two-character form:

变成 = bian(4)cheng(2) = to become, to turn into (the two characters have the same meaning; the duplication is made for clarity)

我不想变成... = Wo(3) bu(4) xiang(3) bian(4) cheng(2)... = I don't want to become...