与此同时 (yǔ cǐ tóngshí) — meanwhile; at the same time
Reach for this when you've just described one development and want to layer a second, parallel event happening in the same window — 'meanwhile,' 'at the same time.' Formal conjunctive, almost exclusively written or news-spoken. Use it to weave threads in a story ('the team launched the product. Meanwhile, the rival was preparing its response'), to pivot between simultaneous trends in essays, or to add a second strand in business and policy commentary. Too stiff for casual chat — say 同时 or 这时候 instead.
Structure
Clause A 。 与此同时, Clause B 。
yǔ cǐ tóngshí
How to Think About It
Break it apart: 与 (with) + 此 (this) + 同时 (at the same time) — literally 'with this, at the same time.' The 此 makes it explicitly anaphoric — it points back to the previous clause. That's why it works as a sentence-starter, not just a mid-sentence adverb. English 'meanwhile' carries the same flavor: a deliberate camera-cut to a parallel scene. If you can substitute 'meanwhile' in English, 与此同时 fits.
Examples
公司宣布了裁员计划。与此同时，股价大幅下跌。
Gōngsī xuānbù le cáiyuán jìhuà. Yǔ cǐ tóngshí, gǔjià dàfú xiàdiē.
The company announced layoffs. Meanwhile, the stock price plunged.
政府正在推动新能源政策。与此同时，传统能源行业也在加快转型。
Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài tuīdòng xīn néngyuán zhèngcè. Yǔ cǐ tóngshí, chuántǒng néngyuán hángyè yě zài jiākuài zhuǎnxíng.
The government is pushing new energy policy. At the same time, the traditional energy sector is accelerating its transformation.
他在国外读博士。与此同时，他的家人正在国内为他准备婚礼。
Tā zài guówài dú bóshì. Yǔ cǐ tóngshí, tā de jiārén zhèngzài guónèi wèi tā zhǔnbèi hūnlǐ.
He's doing his PhD abroad. Meanwhile, his family is preparing his wedding back home.
AI 技术快速发展。与此同时，相关的伦理问题也越来越受到关注。
AI jìshù kuàisù fāzhǎn. Yǔ cǐ tóngshí, xiāngguān de lúnlǐ wèntí yě yuè lái yuè shòudào guānzhù.
AI technology is developing rapidly. At the same time, related ethical issues are drawing more and more attention.
Common Mistake
Learners use 与此同时 for two actions by the same person at once. The pattern is for shifting to a parallel scene — typically a different subject or a different storyline.
我做饭，与此同时听音乐。
公司发布了新产品。与此同时，竞争对手也在准备反击。
Don't Confuse With
同时
Plain 'at the same time / also.' Works mid-sentence and in casual speech. 与此同时 is the formal, written, scene-shifting version.
一边...一边...
'Doing X while doing Y' by the same person. For simultaneous actions of one subject. 与此同时 is for parallel events across different subjects or threads.
另一方面
'On the other hand' — introduces a contrast or different angle, not a simultaneous event. Use 另一方面 for trade-offs, 与此同时 for parallel timelines.
Practice
Fill in: 经济在增长。___，环境问题也越来越严重。
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与此同时
Translate to Chinese: The team is testing the product. Meanwhile, marketing is preparing the launch.
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团队在测试产品。与此同时，市场部正在准备发布。
Arrange: 与此同时 / 物价 / 工资 / 也 / 在 / 在上涨 / ， / 上涨 / 。
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工资在上涨。与此同时，物价也在上涨。
Use 与此同时 to connect two parallel news developments.
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中国在大力发展电动车。与此同时，相关的充电设施也在快速建设。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode:
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 与此同时 (yǔ cǐ tóngshí) — meanwhile; at the same time in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start, no card.