Difference between revisions of "Expressing "either... or..." with "yaome""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
You can give a series of alternatives by using 要么 (yàome). The structure is pretty versatile, as you can put a wide variety of things after each 要么:
 
  
== Used for Making a Suggestion ==
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When used by itself, 要么 is a not-so-pushy suggestion. But when used for a pair of choices, it gives a much more hardline "either/or" feel: ''these are the two choices. Choose one.'' (It can also be used for more than two choices, but it's usually just two.) In this case, 要不 acts exactly like 要么.
 
 
===Structure===
 
 
 
When used all by itself, 要么 starts the sentence and is used to give a suggestion.  
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Reason / Situation ,要么 + Option B (+ 吧)
 
</div>
 
 
 
or
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
要么 + Option / Suggestion,Reason / Situation
 
</div>
 
  
===Examples===
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== Structure ==
  
<div class="liju">
+
You can give a series of alternatives by using 要么 (yàome). The structure is pretty versatile, as you can put a wide variety of things after each 要么.
 
 
*老板 今天 不 在 ,<em>要么</em> 你们 明天 来 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn jīntiān bù zài, <em>yàome</em> nǐmen míngtiān lái ba.</span><span class="trans">The boss isn't here today. How about if you all come back tomorrow?</span>
 
*大家 都 有点 累 了,<em>要么</em> 休息 一会儿 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu yǒudiǎn lèi le, <em>yàome</em> xiūxi yīhuìr ba.</span><span class="trans">Everyone is a little tired. Why don't we rest for a while?</span>
 
*这个 星期 我 比较 忙,<em>要么</em> 下 个 星期 见 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhège xīngqī wǒ bǐjiào máng, <em>yàome</em> xià gè xīngqī jiàn?</span><span class="trans">I'm pretty busy this week. How about we meet up next week?</span>
 
*我 周末 还 没 安排,<em>要么</em> 你们 来 我家 玩 ?<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhōumò hái méi ānpái, <em>yàome</em> lái wǒ jiā wán?</span><span class="trans">I don't have plans for the weekend. How about you guys come to my place and hang out?</span>
 
*我 的 钱 不 够 ,<em>要么</em> 我 用 支付宝 付 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de qián bù gòu, <em>yàome</em> wǒ yòng Zhīfùbǎo fù ba.</span><span class="trans">I don't have that much money. How about I pay you by Alipay?</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Used to Express Limited Options ==
 
 
 
When used by itself, 要么 is a not-so-pushy suggestion. But when used for a pair of choices, it gives a much more hardline "either/or" feel: ''these are the two choices. Choose one.'' (It can also be used for more than two choices, but it's usually just two.)  In this case, 要不 acts exactly like 要么.
 
  
 
It can be used both for commands and non-commands.
 
It can be used both for commands and non-commands.
 
=== Structure ===
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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</div>
 
</div>
  
===Examples===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|要么|B1|要么⋯⋯,要么⋯⋯|<em>要么</em> 今天 过来 , <em>要么</em> 后天 过来 。|grammar point|ASG30A60}}
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{{Basic Grammar|要么|B1|要么⋯⋯,要么⋯⋯|<em>要么</em> 你 去,<em>要么</em> 他 去 。|grammar point|ASG30A60}}
 
{{Rel char|要}}
 
{{Rel char|要}}
 
{{Similar|Providing two options with double "huozhe"}}
 
{{Similar|Providing two options with double "huozhe"}}

Revision as of 02:41, 26 December 2017

When used by itself, 要么 is a not-so-pushy suggestion. But when used for a pair of choices, it gives a much more hardline "either/or" feel: these are the two choices. Choose one. (It can also be used for more than two choices, but it's usually just two.) In this case, 要不 acts exactly like 要么.

Structure

You can give a series of alternatives by using 要么 (yàome). The structure is pretty versatile, as you can put a wide variety of things after each 要么.

It can be used both for commands and non-commands.

要么 + Option A ,要么 + Option B

Examples

  • 要么 你 去,要么 他 去 。Yàome nǐ qù, yàome tā qù.Either you go, or he goes.
  • 要么 现在 就 买 ,要么 就 别 买 。Yàome xiànzài jiù mǎi, yàome jiù bié mǎi.Either buy it now, or don't buy it.
  • 要么 好好 听课 ,要么 现在 就 出去 。Yàome hǎohǎo tīngkè, yàome xiànzài jiù chūqù.Either listen to the lesson carefully or get out right now.
  • 去年 夏天 ,我 每天 要么 去 健身,要么 去 图书馆,特别 无聊 。Qùnián xiàtiān, wǒ měi tiān yàome qù jiànshēn, yàome qù túshūguǎn, tèbié wúliáo.Last summer I either went to the gym or the library every day. It was so boring.
  • 我 老公 周末 要么 睡觉 ,要么 打 游戏 ,从来 不 做 家务 。Wǒ lǎogōng zhōumò yàome shuìjiào, yàome dǎ yóuxì, cónglái bù zuò jiāwù.My husband either sleeps or plays online games on weekends. He never does chores.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books