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ChineseGrammarWiki


			
				
					
						
						
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<p>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.</p>
<h2 id="还是-is-used-to-offer-choices-in-a-question">还是 is used to
offer choices in a question</h2>
<p><a href="Offering_choices_with_&quot;haishi&quot;" title=
"wikilink">When asking a question, 还是 can be used to provide
choices or options.</a></p>
<h3 id="structure">Structure</h3>
<p>This grammar pattern is fairly flexible. You can create all
kinds of questions with 还是 using the following structure.</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + Verb + Option A + 还是 + Option B</p>
</div>
<h3 id="examples">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>她 喜欢 你 <em>还是</em> 他 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā xǐhuan nǐ
<em>háishì</em> tā?</span> <span class="trans">Does she like you or
him?</span></li>
<li>你 喝 茶 <em>还是</em> 喝 咖啡 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ hē chá
<em>háishì</em> hē kāfēi?</span> <span class="trans">Do you drink
tea or coffee?</span></li>
<li>你 中午 出去 吃 <em>还是</em> 叫 外卖 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhōngwǔ
chūqù chī <em>háishì</em> jiào wàimài?</span> <span class=
"trans">Are you going out for lunch or order take-out?</span></li>
<li>我们 打车 <strong>或者</strong> 坐 地铁？<span class="expl">Since it is a
question, it should use "还是"</span></li>
<li>你 的 中文 老师 姓 王 <strong>或者</strong> 姓 李? <span class="expl">Since
it is a question, it should use "还是"</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="或者-is-used-to-give-options-in-declarative-sentences">或者 is
used to give options in declarative sentences</h2>
<p><a href="&quot;Or&quot;_in_statements" title="wikilink">或者 is
used in declarative sentences in which options are
presented.</a></p>
<h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Option 1 + 或者 + Option 2</p>
</div>
<p>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.</p>
<h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>明天 <em>或者</em> 后天 都 行。<span class="pinyin">Míngtiān
<em>huòzhě</em> hòutiān dōu xíng.</span><span class="trans">Either
tomorrow or the day after is fine.</span></li>
<li>周末 我 想 在 家 看书 <em>或者</em> 看 电影。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò wǒ
xiǎng zài jiā kànshū <em>huòzhě</em> kàn
diànyǐng.</span><span class="trans">I'd like to stay at home
reading or watching some movies.</span></li>
<li>我 喜欢 走路 <strong>还是</strong> 骑 自行车 上班 。<span class="expl">Since
it's declarative, it uses "或者"</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="还是-is-used-for-questions-that-are-embedded-in-sentences">还是
is used for questions that are embedded in sentences</h2>
<p>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.</p>
<h3 id="examples-2">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>我 不 知道 这 本 书 是 他 的 <em>还是</em> 我 的。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù
zhīdào zhè běn shū shì tā de <em>háishì</em> wǒ
de.</span><span class="trans">I don't know if this book is his or
mine.</span></li>
<li>我 不 知道 是 自己 跟 他 说 <em>还是</em> 让 别人 帮 我 跟 他 说。<span class=
"pinyin">Wǒ bù zhīdào shì zìjǐ gēn tā shuō <em>háishì</em> ràng
biérén bāng wǒ gēn tā shuō.</span><span class="trans">I don't know
if I should talk to him myself or ask someone else to talk to him
for me.</span></li>
<li>我 不 清楚 是 我们 先 走 <em>还是</em> 等 他们 一起 走。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
bù qīngchu shì wǒmen xiān zǒu <em>háishì</em> děng tāmen yīqǐ
zǒu.</span><span class="trans">I'm not sure if we should leave
first, or wait for them and leave together.</span></li>
<li>老板 现在 还 不 确定 是 这 个 周 出差 <em>或者</em> 下 个 周。<span class=
"expl">It's an embedded question, so it should use "还是"</span></li>
<li>我 不 知道 他 要 看电影 <em>或者</em> 听 音乐。<span class="expl">It's an
embedded question, so it should use "还是"</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="还是-is-used-to-indicate-a-preferred-course-of-action">还是 is
used to indicate a preferred course of action</h2>
<h3 id="structure-2">Structure</h3>
<p><a href="&quot;Had_better&quot;_with_&quot;haishi&quot;" title=
"wikilink">还是 can also be used to express the English words "ought
to" or "had better."</a> 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 <a href="Suggestions_with_&quot;ba&quot;" title=
"wikilink">it is a suggestion</a>.</p>
<h3 id="examples-3">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>今天 晚上 我 太忙了，不可以 去 酒吧。我 <em>还是</em> 做 作业
<strong>吧</strong>。<span class="trans">I'm extremely busy tonight,
so I can't go to the bar. I'd better do my homework.</span></li>
<li>我 听说 这部电影 不好看，我们 <em>还是</em> 看 其他的
<strong>吧</strong>。<span class="trans">I heard this movie wasn't
good. We should watch another one.</span></li>
<li>今天 的 作业 特别 难，我们 <em>还是</em> 问 老师
<strong>吧</strong>。<span class="trans">Today's homework is
especially hard. We had better ask the teacher.</span></li>
<li>我 困死了，<strong>或者</strong> 回家 睡觉 <strong>吧</strong>。<span class=
"expl">"或者" isn't used for suggestions.</span></li>
<li>我 非常 无聊，我们 <strong>或者</strong> 出去玩
<strong>吧</strong>。<span class="expl">"或者" isn't used for
suggestions.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="或者-can-be-repeated-when-providing-options">或者 can be
repeated when providing options</h2>
<p><a href="Providing_two_options_with_double_&quot;huozhe&quot;"
title="wikilink">Another easy way to use 或者 to give two options is
to place 或者 before both options.</a></p>
<h3 id="structure-3">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>或者 A，或者 B</p>
</div>
<p>Almost anything can be placed after either 或者.</p>
<h3 id="examples-4">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>只 有 一 块 蛋糕，<em>或者</em> 你 吃 <em>或者</em> 我 吃。<span class=
"trans">There's only one piece of cake. Either you eat it, or I
do.</span></li>
<li>你 <em>或者</em> 学 汉语 ， <em>或者</em> 学 法律，别的就别学了。<span class=
"trans">Either study Chinese or law, don't study anything
else.</span></li>
<li>咱们 <strong>还是</strong> 去 爬山 <strong>还是</strong>
泡温泉。<span class="expl">It's declarative, so it uses
"或者"</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="&quot;Or&quot;_in_statements" title="wikilink">"Or" in
statements</a></li>
<li><a href="Providing_two_options_with_double_&quot;huozhe&quot;"
title="wikilink">Providing two options with double
"huozhe"</a></li>
<li><a href="Offering_choices_with_&quot;haishi&quot;" title=
"wikilink">Offering choices with "haishi"</a></li>
<li><a href="&quot;Had_better&quot;_with_&quot;haishi&quot;" title=
"wikilink">"Had better" with "haishi"</a></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&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;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&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0887276385">
→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition" title=
"wikilink">Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition</a> (pp.
144) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0415372615">
→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.
259-60)　<a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0887276385">→buy</a></li>
<li><a href=
"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)"
title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)</a> (pp.
103) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=7561913192">
→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.
76-7, 257-8)　<a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0887276385">→buy</a></li>
<li><a href=
"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)"
title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)</a> (pp.
179) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=7561910401">
→buy</a></li>
<li><a href=
"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)"
title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd
ed)</a> (pp. 206-7, 251) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=7561926235">
→buy</a></li>
<li><a href=
"%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"
class="uri" title="wikilink">现代汉语八百词（增订本）</a> (pp. 238) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1345693275&amp;sr=8-1">
→buy</a></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="websites">Websites</h3>
<ul>
<li>Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: <a href=
"http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0213.html">Comparing
还是 and 或者</a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="Category:grammar_comparison" title=
"wikilink">Category:grammar comparison</a></p>
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