इस बीच (is biich)

adverb A fixed adverbial phrase meaning 'meanwhile, in the meantime' -- built from इस (is, 'this') plus बीच (biich, 'middle/interval'). Single sense.

Sense 1 : meanwhile, in the meantime

adverb Typically opens a clause or sentence to link it to the time span just described in the previous sentence, functioning like a discourse connector rather than a word modifying a single verb.

Synonyms: इसी दौरान (isii dauraan), तब तक (tab tak, focuses on 'until then' rather than 'during this')

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in Hindi news broadcasts and narration to bridge two events happening in parallel, much like 'meanwhile' opens a new scene in an English news report -- for instance, a news anchor might say इस बीच, सरकार ने... (is biich, sarkaar ne..., 'meanwhile, the government has...') right after describing one event, before pivoting to another.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to use इस बीच (is biich) mid-sentence to mean 'in between' two objects or places -- that spatial sense belongs to बीच में (biich men), not इस बीच (is biich), which is strictly a time connector between events. 2) It is often confused with इसके बीच (iske biich), which is not idiomatic in this sense -- the fixed form is इस बीच (is biich), not a postposition-marked version of इस (is).

Sample Sentences:

इस बीच, सरकार ने नई योजना का ऐलान कर दिया है। Meanwhile, the government has announced a new scheme.

(is biich, sarkaar ne naii yojnaa kaa ailaan kar diyaa hai।)

इस बीच, बारिश तेज होती जा रही थी। Meanwhile, the rain kept getting heavier.

(is biich, baarish tej hotii jaa rahii thii।)

तुम खाना बनाओ, इस बीच मैं कपड़े धो लूँगी। You cook the food, meanwhile I'll wash the clothes.

(tum khaanaa banaao, is biich main kapde dho loongii।)

पुलिस मामले की जांच कर रही है, इस बीच पीड़ित परिवार न्याय का इंतज़ार कर रहा है। The police are investigating the case, meanwhile the victim's family is waiting for justice.

(pulis maamle kii jaanch kar rahii hai, is biich piidit parivaar nyaay kaa intzaar kar rahaa hai।)

क्या इस बीच किसी ने उससे बात करने की कोशिश की? Did anyone try to talk to him in the meantime?

(kyaa is biich kisii ne usse baat karne kii koshish kii?)

अगर इस बीच कोई फोन करे, तो मुझे बता देना। If anyone calls in the meantime, let me know.

(agar is biich koii phon kare, to mujhe bataa denaa।)

इस बीच अगर वह आ जाता, तो सब कुछ ठीक हो जाता। If he had come in the meantime, everything would have been fine.

(is biich agar vah aa jaataa, to sab kuchh thiik ho jaataa।)

इस बीच, अस्पताल में मरीज़ों की संख्या बढ़ती रही। Meanwhile, the number of patients in the hospital kept increasing.

(is biich, asptaal men mariizon kii sankhyaa badhtii rahii।)

इस बीच शहर में बिजली की समस्या भी गंभीर हो गई थी। Meanwhile, the electricity problem in the city had also become severe.

(is biich shahar men bijlii kii samasyaa bhii gambhiir ho gaii thii।)

इस बीच विपक्ष द्वारा सरकार पर कई सवाल उठाए गए। Meanwhile, several questions were raised against the government by the opposition.

(is biich vipaksh dvaaraa sarkaar par kaii savaal uthaae gae।)

जब तक चाय बने, इस बीच थोड़ा आराम कर लो। While the tea is being made, rest a bit in the meantime.

(jab tak chaay bane, is biich thodaa aaraam kar lo।)