Difference between revisions of "Expressing "either... or..." with "yaome""
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| − | + | 要么 (yàome) is used for offering a pair of choices with a 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.) | |
| − | + | == 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. | |
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| − | It can be used both for commands and non-commands. | ||
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| − | + | == Examples == | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
*<em>要么</em> 你 去，<em>要么</em> 他 去 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàome</em> nǐ qù, <em>yàome</em> tā qù.</span><span class="trans">Either you go, or he goes.</span> | *<em>要么</em> 你 去，<em>要么</em> 他 去 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàome</em> nǐ qù, <em>yàome</em> tā qù.</span><span class="trans">Either you go, or he goes.</span> | ||
| − | *<em>要么</em> 现在 就 买 ，<em>要么</em> 就 | + | *<em>要么</em> 继续 ，<em>要么</em> 放弃 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàome</em> jìxù, <em>yàome</em> fàngqì.</span><span class="trans">Either keep going or give up.</span> |
| − | *<em>要么</em> | + | *<em>要么</em> 好好 做 ，<em>要么</em> 就 别 做 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàome</em> hǎohāo zuò, <em>yàome</em> jiù bié zuò.</span><span class="trans">You either do it well or don't do it.</span> |
| − | *去年 夏天 ，我 每天 <em>要么</em> 去 | + | *<em>要么</em> 现在 就 买 ，<em>要么</em> 现在 就 走 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàome</em> xiànzài jiù mǎi, <em>yàome</em> xiànzài jiù zǒu.</span><span class="trans">Either buy it now, or leave now.</span> |
| − | *我 老公 周末 <em>要么</em> 睡觉 ，<em>要么</em> 打 游戏 ，从来 不 做 家务 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ lǎogōng zhōumò <em>yàome</em> shuìjiào, <em>yàome</em> dǎ yóuxì, cónglái bù zuò jiāwù.</span><span class="trans">My husband either sleeps or plays | + | *你 <em>要么</em> 回 老家 ，<em>要么</em> 留在 上海 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>yàome</em> huí lǎojiā, <em>yàome</em> liúzài Shànghǎi.</span><span class="trans">You either go back to your hometown or stay in Shanghai.</span> |
| + | *<em>要么</em> 看书 ，<em>要么</em> 写 作业 ，不 可以 出去 玩 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàome</em> kànshū, <em>yàome</em> xiě zuòyè, bù kěyǐ chūqù wán.</span><span class="trans">Either read or do your homework. No playing outside.</span> | ||
| + | *你 <em>要么</em> 加入 我们 队，<em>要么</em> 加入 他们 队 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>yàome</em> jiārù wǒmen duì, <em>yàome</em> jiārù tāmen duì.</span><span class="trans">You either join our team or their team.</span> | ||
| + | *<em>要么</em> 继续 找 工作 ，<em>要么</em> 创业 ，不 能 什么 都 不 做 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàome</em> jìxù zhǎo gōngzuò, <em>yàome</em> chuàngyè, bù néng shénme dōu bù zuò.</span><span class="trans">Either keeping looking for a job or start your own business. You can't do nothing.</span> | ||
| + | *去年 夏天 ，我 每天 <em>要么</em> 去 健身房，<em>要么</em> 去 图书馆，特别 无聊 。<span class="pinyin">Qùnián xiàtiān, wǒ měi tiān <em>yàome</em> qù jiànshēnfáng, <em>yàome</em> qù túshūguǎn, tèbié wúliáo.</span><span class="trans">Last summer I either went to the gym or the library every day. It was super boring.</span> | ||
| + | *我 老公 周末 <em>要么</em> 睡觉 ，<em>要么</em> 打 游戏 ，从来 不 做 家务 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ lǎogōng zhōumò <em>yàome</em> shuìjiào, <em>yàome</em> dǎ yóuxì, cónglái bù zuò jiāwù.</span><span class="trans">My husband either sleeps or plays video games on weekends. He never does housework.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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| + | This "either/or" 要么 pattern is similar to one of the uses of each [[Expressing "how about" with "yaobu"|要不]] and [[Providing two options with double "huozhe"|或者]]. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
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=== Books === | === Books === | ||
| − | + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|158}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|165}} | |
[[Category:B1 grammar points]] | [[Category:B1 grammar points]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|要么|B1|要么⋯⋯，要么⋯⋯| | + | {{HSK|HSK0}} |
| + | {{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|Expressing "how about" with "yaobu"}} | ||
{{Similar|Providing two options with double "huozhe"}} | {{Similar|Providing two options with double "huozhe"}} | ||
{{Similar|Expressing the only two possibilities}} | {{Similar|Expressing the only two possibilities}} | ||
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}} | {{Used for|Giving alternatives}} | ||
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} | {{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} | ||
| + | {{Subprop|Complex Sentence Patterns}} | ||
{{Translation|either}} | {{Translation|either}} | ||
{{Translation|or}} | {{Translation|or}} | ||
Latest revision as of 07:00, 11 December 2020
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
要么 (yàome) is used for offering a pair of choices with a 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.)
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 。Either you go, or he goes.
- 要么 继续 ，要么 放弃 。Either keep going or give up.
- 要么 好好 做 ，要么 就 别 做 。You either do it well or don't do it.
- 要么 现在 就 买 ，要么 现在 就 走 。Either buy it now, or leave now.
- 你 要么 回 老家 ，要么 留在 上海 。You either go back to your hometown or stay in Shanghai.
- 要么 看书 ，要么 写 作业 ，不 可以 出去 玩 。Either read or do your homework. No playing outside.
- 你 要么 加入 我们 队，要么 加入 他们 队 。You either join our team or their team.
- 要么 继续 找 工作 ，要么 创业 ，不 能 什么 都 不 做 。Either keeping looking for a job or start your own business. You can't do nothing.
- 去年 夏天 ，我 每天 要么 去 健身房，要么 去 图书馆，特别 无聊 。Last summer I either went to the gym or the library every day. It was super boring.
- 我 老公 周末 要么 睡觉 ，要么 打 游戏 ，从来 不 做 家务 。My husband either sleeps or plays video games on weekends. He never does housework.
This "either/or" 要么 pattern is similar to one of the uses of each 要不 and 或者.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 158) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 165) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
