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<p>In English, "or" can be used to connect words when offering or
considering choices ("do you want chicken or beef?"). It can also
be used as an "or" <em>statement</em> ("it doesn't matter if we eat
chicken or beef"), in Chinese, this is what 或者 (huòzhě) is used
for.</p>
<h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>
<p>While 还是 (háishì) is used for <a href=
"Offering_choices_with_"haishi"" title="wikilink">"or" in
questions</a>, 或者 (huòzhě) is used for "or" in
<strong>statements.</strong></p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2</p>
</div>
<h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>我 喝 <strong>咖啡</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>茶</strong> ，都
行。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hē <strong>kāfēi</strong> <em>huòzhě</em>
<strong>chá</strong>, dōu xíng.</span><span class="trans">I drink
coffee or tea. Either is OK.</span></li>
<li><strong>星期六</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>星期天</strong> ， 都 可以 。
<span class="pinyin"><strong>Xīngqīliù</strong> <em>huòzhě</em>
<strong>Xīngqītiān</strong>, dōu kěyǐ.</span><span class=
"trans">Saturday or Sunday are both OK.</span></li>
<li>今天 晚上 我 想 吃 <strong>披萨</strong> <em>或者</em>
<strong>寿司</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ xiǎng
chī <strong>pīsà</strong> <em>huòzhě</em>
<strong>shòusī</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Tonight I would
like to eat pizza or sushi.</span></li>
<li>周末 的 时候，我 喜欢 在 家 <strong>做饭</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>看
电影</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò de shíhou, wǒ xǐhuan zài
jiā <strong>zuòfàn</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>kàn
diànyǐng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">During the weekend, I
like to cook or watch movies at home.</span></li>
<li><strong>你 去</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>她 去</strong> ，都 可以
。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Nǐ qù</strong> <em>huòzhě</em>
<strong>tā qù</strong>, dōu kěyǐ.</span> <span class="trans">You go
or she goes, either way is fine.</span></li>
<li>下班 以后 <strong>我 去 你 家</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>你 来 我
家</strong> ， 都 可以。<span class="pinyin">Xiàbān yǐhòu <strong>wǒ qù
nǐ jiā</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>nǐ lái wǒ jiā</strong>, dōu
kěyǐ.</span><span class="trans">After work I will go to your house,
or you can come to my house, either way is fine.</span></li>
<li>下 个 月 我 打算 去 <strong>杭州</strong> <em>或者</em>
<strong>苏州</strong> 旅行。<span class="pinyin">Xià gè yuè wǒ dǎsuàn qù
<strong>Hángzhōu</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>Sūzhōu</strong>
lǚxíng.</span><span class="trans">Next month I plan to go to
Hangzhou or Suzhou to travel.</span></li>
<li>我们 可以 <strong>坐 飞机</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>坐 高铁</strong>
去。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen kěyǐ <strong>zuò fēijī</strong>
<em>huòzhě</em> <strong>zuò gāotiě</strong> qù.</span><span class=
"trans">We can go by plane or by high-speed train.</span></li>
<li>晚饭 以后 我 和 家人 <strong>聊天</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>看
电视</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǎnfàn yǐhòu wǒ hé jiārén
<strong>liáotiān</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>kàn
diànshì</strong>.</span><span class="trans">After dinner I chat
with or watch TV with my family.</span></li>
<li>你 可以 用 <strong>手机</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>电脑</strong>
上网。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ yòng <strong>shǒujī</strong>
<em>huòzhě</em> <strong>diànnǎo</strong>
shàngwǎng.</span><span class="trans">You can use either a cell
phone or computer to go online.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="Offering_choices_with_"haishi"" title=
"wikilink">Offering choices with "haishi"</a></li>
<li><a href="Providing_two_options_with_double_"huozhe""
title="wikilink">Providing two options with double "huozhe"</a>
(advanced article)</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further
reading</h2>
<h3 id="books">Books</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar" title=
"wikilink">Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar</a> (pp. 74-5)
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899">
→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)" title=
"wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)</a> (pp.
257-8) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385">
→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1" title=
"wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1</a> (pp. 239-40)
<a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792">
→buy</a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="Category:A2_grammar_points" title=
"wikilink">Category:A2 grammar points</a></p>
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