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 for Providing Choices as a Question == [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Offering_choices_with_%22haishi%22 When asking a question, 还是 can be used to provide choices or options.] === Structure === === Examples === == 或者 for Giving Options as a Statement == [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Or%22_in_statements 或者 is used in a statement 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" 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 === == 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: == Right or Wrong == == See also == * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Or%22_in_statements "Or" in statements] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Offering_choices_with_%22haishi%22 Offering choices with "haishi"] == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar] (pp. 74-5) [http://amzn.to/2ykU1OD →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)] (pp. 257-8) [http://amzn.to/2xe9H5W →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition] (pp. 144) [http://amzn.to/2h67UYa →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)] (pp. 259-60) [http://amzn.to/2xe9H5W →buy] 　 * [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) New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)] (pp. 103) [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 →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)] (pp. 76-7, 257-8) [http://amzn.to/2xe9H5W →buy] 　 * [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) New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)] (pp. 179) [http://amzn.to/2ykX9KF →buy] * [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) New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)] (pp. 206-7, 251) [http://amzn.to/2ykX9KF →buy] * [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 现代汉语八百词（增订本）] (pp. 238) [ →buy] === Websites === * Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0213.html Comparing 还是 and 或者]