Difference between revisions of "Comparing "haishi" and "huozhe""

Latest revision as of 03:33, 8 October 2019

Level

B1 / HSK3
Level

B1
Level

HSK3
Similar to
- Offering choices with "haishi" (A1)
- Expressing "or" in statements (A2)
Similar to
- Expressing "or" in statements (HSK3)
- Offering choices with "haishi" (HSK3)
Used for

Asking questions, Giving alternatives
Keywords

是, 还是, 还, 或者

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

When asking a question, 还是 can be used to provide choices or options.

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 ordering take-out?

或者 for Giving Options as a Statement

或者 is used in a statement in which options are presented.

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.

Incorrect Examples

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 háishì 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 nàge rén shì nánde huòzhě nǚde.I'd like to know if that person is male or female.

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK Standard Course 3 (pp. 23) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 74-5) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 257-8) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 144) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 259-60) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy 　
New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 103) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 76-7, 257-8) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy 　
New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 179) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 206-7, 251) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 238) [ →buy]

Websites

Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Comparing 还是 and 或者

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Grammar Box}}
-{{Stub}}
-Both 还是 (háishì) and  或者 (huòzhě) mean “or” and are used to present a choice.  However, 还是 can only be used when asking a question and 或者 can only be used in a declarative sentence.
+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 ==
-== 还是 is used to offer choices in a question ==
 [[Offering choices with "haishi"|When asking a question, 还是 can be used to provide choices or options.]]
-===Structure===
+=== Structure ===
 <div class="jiegou">
-option1 + 还是 + option2 + ？
+Option A + 还是 + Option B ?
 </div>
-This grammar pattern is fairly flexible. You can create all kinds of questions with 还是 using the following structure.
+=== Examples ===
-<div class="jiegou">
-Subject + Verb + Option A + 还是 + Option B
-</div>
-===Examples===
 <div class="liju">
-<ul>
-<li class="o">你 最 喜欢的 菜 是 中国菜 <em>还是</em> 日本菜<strong>?</strong></li>
-<li class="o">昨天 晚上 你 看 电影了 <em>还是</em> 做 作业<strong>?</strong></li>
-<li class="o">你 喝 茶 <em>还是</em> 喝 咖啡 <strong>？</strong></li>
-<li class="o">你 喜欢 在 家 <em>还是</em> 出去 玩<strong>？</strong></li>
-<li class="x">你 吃 肉 <em>或者</em> 吃素。</li>
-<li class="x">你 学 普通话 <em>或者</em> 广东话。</li>
-</ul>
-</div>
-== 还是 is used for questions that are imbedded 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===
-<div class="liju">
-<ul>
-<li class="o">我 不 知道 这本书 是 他的 <em>还是</em> 我的。</li>
-<li class="o">我 要 知道 他 去 食堂 <em>还是</em> 去饭馆 吃饭。</li>
-<li class="o"> 我 不 知道 我 现在 就 吃饭 <em>还是</em> 等 他们 一起 吃饭。</li>
-<li class="x">老板 现在 还 不 确定 是 这 个 周 出差 <em>或者</em> 下 个 周。</li>
-<li class="x">我 不 知道 他 要不要 看电影 <em>或者</em> 听 音乐。</li>
-</ul>
-</div>
-== 还是 is used to give suggestions ==
-===Structure===
+*你 喜欢 他 <em>还是</em> 我 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan tā <em>háishì</em> wǒ? </span><span class="trans">Do you like him or me? </span>
-[["Had better" with "haishi"|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 emphasis that it is a suggestion.
+*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>
+*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 ordering take-out? </span>
-===Examples===
-<div class="liju">
-<ul>
-<li class="o">今天 晚上 我 太慢了，我 <em>还是</em> 开始 做 作业 <strong>吧</strong>。</li>
-<li class="o">我 听说 这部电影 不好看，我们 <em>还是</em> 看 其他的 <strong>吧</strong>。</li>
-<li class="o">今天 的 作业 特别 难，我们 <em>还是</em> 问 老师 <strong>吧</strong>。</li>
-<li class="x">我 困死了，<em>或者</em> 回家 睡觉 <strong>吧</strong>。</li>
-<li class="x">我 非常 无聊，我们 <em>或者</em> 出去完 <strong>吧</strong>。</li>
-</ul>
 </div>
-== 或者 is used to give options in declarative sentences ==
+== 或者 for Giving Options as a Statement ==
-[["Or" in statements|或者 is used in declarative sentences in which options are presented.]]
+[["Or" in statements|或者 is used in a statement in which options are presented.]]
 === Structure ===
 <div class="jiegou">
-option1 + 或者 + option2
+Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2
 </div>
-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.
+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 ===
 <div class="liju">
-<ul>
-<li class="o">明天 <em>或者</em> 后天，我 要 和 我 的 朋友 见面。</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">This weekend, I want to stay home and read or watch movies. </span>
-<li class="o">今天 中午 我 吃 三明治 <em>或者</em> 汉堡。</li>
+*你 可以 坐 1 号 线 <em>或者</em> 2 号线 去 人民 广场 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ zuò yī hào xiàn <em>huòzhě</em> èr hào xiàn qù Rénmín Guǎngchǎng.</span><span class="trans">You can take Line 1 or Line 2 to People's Square.</span>
-<li class="x">今天 晚上 我 要 看 书 <em>还是</em> 听 音乐。</li>
+*我们 可以 电话 <em>或者</em> 邮件 联系 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen kěyǐ diànhuà <em>huòzhě</em> yóujiàn liánxì.</span><span class="trans">We can contact each other by phone or email.</span>
-</ul>
 </div>
-== 或者 can be repeated when providing options ==
+== 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.
-[[Providing two options with double "huozhe"|Another easy way to use 或者 to give two options is to place 或者 before both options.]]
+A few examples:
-===Structure===
+<div class="liju">
+*我 <strong>不 知道 </strong> 这 本 书 是 他 的 <em>还是</em> 我 的 。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ <strong>bù zhīdào </strong> 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>
+*我 <strong>想 知道</strong> 他们 是 支持 <em>还是</em> 反对 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>xiǎng zhīdào</strong> tāmen shì zhīchí <em>háishì</em> fǎnduì.</span><span class="trans">I want to know if they support or oppose.</span>
+*老板 <strong>不 确定</strong> 是 这 个 周末 出差 <em>还是</em> 下 个 周末 出差 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <strong>bù quèdìng</strong> shì zhège zhōumò chūchāi <em>háishì</em> xià gè zhōumò chūchāi.</span><span class="trans">The boss isn't sure if he's going on a business trip this weekend or next weekend.</span>
-<div class="jiegou">
-或者 A，或者 B
 </div>
-Almost anything can be placed after either 或者.
+== Incorrect Examples ==
-===Examples===
+<div class="liju">
-<div class="liju">
 <ul>
-<li class="o">只 有 一 块 蛋糕，<em>或者</em> 你 吃 <em>或者</em> 我 吃。</li>
+<li class="x">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><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dǎchē <em>huòzhě</em> zuò dìtiě?</span><span class="trans">Shall we take a taxi or take the metro?</span></li>
-<li class="o">你 <em>或者</em> 学 汉语 ， <em>或者</em> 学 法律，别的就别学了。</li>
+<li class="x">明天 <em>还是</em> 后天 都 行 。<span class="expl">Since it is a statement, it should use 或者</span><span class="pinyin">Míngtiān <em>háishì</em> hòutiān dōu xíng.</span><span class="trans">Either tomorrow or the day after is fine.</span></li>
-<li class="x">咱们 <em>还是</em> 去 爬山 <em>还是</em> 泡温泉。</li>
+<li class="x">我 <strong>想 知道</strong> 那个 人 是 男的 <em>或者</em> 女的 。<span class="expl">It's an embedded question, so it should use 还是</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>xiǎng zhīdào</strong> nàge rén shì nánde <em>huòzhě</em> nǚde.</span><span class="trans">I'd like to know if that person is male or female.</span></li>
 </ul>
 </div>
 == See also ==
+* [["Or" in statements]]
+* [[Offering choices with "haishi"]]
 == Sources and  further reading ==
@@ Line 112: / Line 80: @@
 === Books ===
-* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 74-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
+{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|23}}
-* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 257-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
+{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|74-5}}
-* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 144) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
+{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|257-8}}
-* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 259-60)　[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
+{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|144}}
-* [[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]
+{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|259-60}}
-* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 76-7, 257-8)　[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
+{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|103}}
-* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 179) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
+{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|76-7, 257-8}}
-* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 206-7, 251) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy]
+{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|179}}
-*[[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (pp. 238) [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&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
+{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)|206-7, 251}}
+{{Source|现代汉语八百词（增订本）|238}}
+=== Websites ===
+* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0213.html Comparing 还是 and 或者]
 [[Category:grammar comparison]]
-{{Basic Grammar|还是|B1|还是 vs 或者|你 喝 茶 <em>还是</em> 喝 咖啡 <strong>？明天 <em>或者</em> 后天，我 要 和 我 的 朋友 见面。|grammar point|ASGQJ5IC}}
+{{HSK|HSK3}}
+{{Basic Grammar|还是|B1|还是 vs. 或者|我们 明天 见 <em>还是</em> 后天 见 ？明天 <em>或者</em> 后天 都 可以 。|grammar point|ASGQJ5IC}}
 {{Rel char|或者}}
+{{Rel char|还}}
+{{Rel char|是}}
 {{Similar|"Or" in statements}}
-{{Similar|Providing two options with double "huozhe"}}
 {{Similar|Offering choices with "haishi"}}
-{{Similar|"Had better" with "haishi"}}
 {{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 {{Used for|Asking questions}}
-{{Comparison}}
+{{Translation|or}}
+{{Comparison|Conjunctions}}

Difference between revisions of "Comparing "haishi" and "huozhe""

Latest revision as of 03:33, 8 October 2019

Contents

还是 for Providing Choices as a Question

Structure

Examples

或者 for Giving Options as a Statement

Structure

Examples

还是 for Questions That Are Embedded in Sentences

Incorrect Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites