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Level

[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)

Similar to

- [Offering choices with "haishi"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Offering_choices_with_%22haishi%22) (A1) - [Expressing "or" in statements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22or%22_in_statements) (A2)

Used for

[Giving alternatives](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Giving_alternatives), [Asking questions](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Asking_questions)

Keywords

[还是](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E8%BF%98%E6%98%AF), [或者](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%88%96%E8%80%85), [还](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E8%BF%98), [是](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%98%AF)

Translations

[or](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Or)

[![Chinese-grammar-wiki－haishi.jpg](Comparing%20%22haishi%22%20and%20%22huozhe%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wikihaishi.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki－haishi.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki%EF%BC%8Dhaishi.jpg)

Both 还是 (háishì) and 或者 (huòzhě) mean "or" and are used to present a choice. However, 还是 is normally used when asking a question, and 或者 is mostly for declarative sentences.

Contents -------- [hide]([# "wikilink")\]

- [1 还是 for Providing Choices as a Question](#.E8.BF.98.E6.98.AF_for_Providing_Choices_as_a_Question "wikilink") - [1.1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [1.2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [2 或者 for Giving Options as a Statement](#.E6.88.96.E8.80.85_for_Giving_Options_as_a_Statement "wikilink") - [2.1 Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink") - [2.2 Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink") - [3 还是 for Questions That Are Embedded in Sentences](#.E8.BF.98.E6.98.AF_for_Questions_That_Are_Embedded_in_Sentences "wikilink") - [4 Right or Wrong](#Right_or_Wrong "wikilink") - [5 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [6 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [6.1 Books](#Books "wikilink") - [6.2 Websites](#Websites "wikilink")

还是 for Providing Choices as a Question ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [When asking a question, 还是 can be used to provide choices or options.](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Offering_choices_with_%22haishi%22) ### Structure

Option A + 还是 + Option B ?

### Examples

- 你喜欢他 *还是* 我？Nǐ xǐhuan tā *háishì* wǒ? Do you like him or me? - 你喝茶 *还是* 喝咖啡？Nǐ hē chá *háishì* hē kāfēi? Do you drink tea or coffee? - 你中午出去吃 *还是* 叫外卖？Nǐ zhōngwǔ chūqù chī *háishì* jiào wàimài? Are you going out for lunch or order take-out?

或者 for Giving Options as a Statement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [或者 is used in a statement in which options are presented.](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Or%22_in_statements) ### Structure

Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2

The structure for 或者 and 还是 is the same, but the meaning, as well as the context in which 或者 is needed, is different. 或者 drops the "A or B, PICK ONE" attitude in favor of a more open, "maybe A, perhaps B... (or maybe both or neither?)" So it's less exclusive and less demanding of a choice RIGHT NOW. ### Examples

- 周末我想在家看书 *或者* 看电影。Zhōumò wǒ xiǎng zài jiā kànshū *huòzhě* kàn diànyǐng.This weekend, I want to stay home and read or watch movies. - 你可以坐 1 号线 *或者* 2 号线去人民广场。Nǐ kěyǐ zuò yī hào xiàn *huòzhě* èr hào xiàn qù Rénmín Guǎngchǎng.You can take Line 1 or Line 2 to People's Square. - 我们可以电话 *或者* 邮件联系。Wǒmen kěyǐ diànhuà *huòzhě* yóujiàn liánxì.We can contact each other by phone or email.

还是 for Questions That Are Embedded in Sentences ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deciding whether or not to use 还是 becomes difficult with sentences that contain statements like "I don’t know," "I want to know," "I’m not sure," etc. Alone, these statements are not technically questions. However, when used in a sentence that contains choices, these statements imply that a question must be answered. Therefore, you must use 还是. A few examples:

- 我 **不知道** 这本书是他的 *还是* 我的。 Wǒ **bù zhīdào** zhè běn shū shì tā de *háishì* wǒ de.I don't know if this book is his or mine. - 我 **想知道** 他们是支持 *还是* 反对。Wǒ **xiǎng zhīdào** tāmen shì zhīchí *háishì* fǎnduì.I want to know if they support or oppose. - 老板 **不确定** 是这个周末出差 *还是* 下个周末出差。Lǎobǎn **bù quèdìng** shì zhège zhōumò chūchāi *háishì* xià gè zhōumò chūchāi.The boss isn't sure if he's going on a business trip this weekend or next weekend.

Right or Wrong -------------------------------------------------------------------

- 我们打车 **或者** 坐地铁？Since it is a question, it should use 还是Wǒmen dǎchē *huòzhě* zuò dìtiě?Shall we take a taxi or take the metro? - 明天 *还是* 后天都行。Since it is a statement, it should use 或者Míngtiān *huòzhě* hòutiān dōu xíng.Either tomorrow or the day after is fine. - 我 **想知道** 那个人是男的 *或者* 女的。It's an embedded question, so it should use 还是Wǒ **xiǎng zhīdào** nà ge rén shì nánde *huòzhě* nǚde.I'd like to know if that person is male or female.

See also ------------------------------------------------------- - ["Or" in statements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Or%22_in_statements) - [Offering choices with "haishi"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Offering_choices_with_%22haishi%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar) (pp. 74-5) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ykU1OD) - [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)) (pp. 257-8) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xe9H5W) - [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition) (pp. 144) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2h67UYa) - [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)) (pp. 259-60) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xe9H5W) 　 - [New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_4_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC4)) (pp. 103) [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192) - [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)) (pp. 76-7, 257-8) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xe9H5W) 　 - [New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC1)) (pp. 179) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ykX9KF) - [New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC1)(2nd_ed)) (pp. 206-7, 251) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ykX9KF) - [现代汉语八百词（增订本）](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D%EF%BC%88%E5%A2%9E%E8%AE%A2%E6%9C%AC%EF%BC%89) (pp. 238) \[ →buy\] ### Websites - Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [Comparing 还是 and 或者](http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0213.html) \

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