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.
还是 is used to offer choices in a question
When asking a question, 还是 can be used to provide choices or options.
Structure
This grammar pattern is fairly flexible. You can create all kinds of questions with 还是 using the following structure.
Subj. + Verb + Option A + 还是 + Option B
Examples
- 她 喜欢 你 还是 他 ？Tā xǐhuan nǐ háishì tā? Does she like you or him?
- 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?
- 我们 打车 或者 坐 地铁？Since it is a question, it should use "还是"
- 你 的 中文 老师 姓 王 或者 姓 李? Since it is a question, it should use "还是"
或者 is used to give options in declarative sentences
或者 is used in declarative sentences in which options are presented.
Structure
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" atttitude 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
- 明天 或者 后天 都 行。Míngtiān huòzhě hòutiān dōu xíng.Either tomorrow or the day after is fine.
- 周末 我 想 在 家 看书 或者 看 电影。Zhōumò wǒ xiǎng zài jiā kànshū huòzhě kàn diànyǐng.I'd like to stay at home reading or watching some movies.
- 我 喜欢 走路 还是 骑 自行车 上班 。Since it's declarative, it uses "或者"
还是 is used 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.
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 不 知道 是 自己 跟 他 说 还是 让 别人 帮 我 跟 他 说。Wǒ bù zhīdào shì zìjǐ gēn tā shuō háishì ràng biérén bāng wǒ gēn tā shuō.I don't know if I should talk to him myself or ask someone else to talk to him for me.
- 我 不 清楚 是 我们 先 走 还是 等 他们 一起 走。Wǒ bù qīngchu shì wǒmen xiān zǒu háishì děng tāmen yīqǐ zǒu.I'm not sure if we should leave first, or wait for them and leave together.
- 老板 现在 还 不 确定 是 这 个 周 出差 或者 下 个 周。It's an embedded question, so it should use "还是"
- 我 不 知道 他 要 看电影 或者 听 音乐。It's an embedded question, so it should use "还是"
还是 is used to indicate a preferred course of action
Structure
还是 can also be used to express the English words "ought to" or "had better." The use of 还是 implies that the there were originally two options and the speaker has decided on one. In this grammar structure, 还是 often comes before the verb and sometimes before the subject. 吧 is often placed at the end of the statement to emphasize that it is a suggestion.
Examples
- 今天 晚上 我 太忙了，不可以 去 酒吧。我 还是 做 作业 吧。I'm extremely busy tonight, so I can't go to the bar. I'd better do my homework.
- 我 听说 这部电影 不好看，我们 还是 看 其他的 吧。I heard this movie wasn't good. We should watch another one.
- 今天 的 作业 特别 难，我们 还是 问 老师 吧。Today's homework is especially hard. We had better ask the teacher.
- 我 困死了，或者 回家 睡觉 吧。"或者" isn't used for suggestions.
- 我 非常 无聊，我们 或者 出去玩 吧。"或者" isn't used for suggestions.
或者 can be repeated when providing options
Another easy way to use 或者 to give two options is to place 或者 before both options.
Structure
Almost anything can be placed after either 或者.
Examples
- 只 有 一 块 蛋糕，或者 你 吃 或者 我 吃。There's only one piece of cake. Either you eat it, or I do.
- 你 或者 学 汉语 ， 或者 学 法律，别的就别学了。Either study Chinese or law, don't study anything else.
- 咱们 还是 去 爬山 还是 泡温泉。It's declarative, so it uses "或者"
See Also
Sources and further reading
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Category:grammar comparison