Difference between revisions of "Comparing "haishi" and "huozhe""
 
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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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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.   
  
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== 还是 is used to offer choices in a question ==
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== 还是 for Providing Choices as a Question ==
  
 
[[Offering choices with "haishi"|When asking a question, 还是 can be used to provide choices or options.]]  
 
[[Offering choices with "haishi"|When asking a question, 还是 can be used to provide choices or options.]]  
  
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===Structure===
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=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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option1 + 还是 + option2 + ？
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Option A + 还是 + Option B ?
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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This grammar pattern is fairly flexible. You can create all kinds of questions with 还是 using the following structure.
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=== Examples ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
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Subject + Verb + Option A + 还是 + Option B
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
 
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===Examples===
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<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> <span class="trans">Is your favorite food Chinese food or Japanese food?</span>
 
−
<li class="o">昨天 晚上 你 看 电影了 <em>还是</em> 做 作业了<strong>?</strong></li> <span class="trans">Did you watch a movie last night, or do your work?</span>
 
−
<li class="o">你 喝 茶 <em>还是</em> 喝 咖啡 <strong>?</strong></li> <span class="trans">Did you drink tea or coffee.</span>
 
−
<li class="o">你 喜欢 在 家 <em>还是</em> 出去 玩<strong>?</strong></li> <span class="trans">Do you like to stay in the house or go out to have fun?</span>
 
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<li class="x">你 吃 肉 <strong>或者</strong> 吃素。</li> <span class="expl">Since it is a question, it should use "还是"</span>
 
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<li class="x">你 学 普通话 <strong>或者</strong> 广东话。</li> <span class="expl">Since it is a question, it should use "还是"</span>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
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== 还是 is used for questions that are imbedded in sentences ==
 
  
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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  
+
*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>
 +
*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>
  
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===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><span class="trans">I don't know if this book is his or mine.</span>
 
−
<li class="o">我 要 知道 他 去 食堂 <em>还是</em> 去饭馆 吃饭。</li><span class="trans">I want to know if he went to the cafeteria or a restaurant to eat.</span>
 
−
<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><span class="trans">I don't know if I should eat now or wait for them and eat together.</span>
 
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<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><span class="expl">It's an embedded question, so it should use "还是" </span>
 
−
<li class="x">我 不 知道 他 要不要 看电影 <em>或者</em> 听 音乐。</li><span class="expl">It's an embedded question, so it should use "还是"</span>
 
−
</ul>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== 还是 is used to give suggestions ==
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== 或者 for Giving Options as a Statement ==
  
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===Structure===
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[["Or" in statements|或者 is used in a statement in which options are presented.]]
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[["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.
 
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===Examples=== 
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul>
 
−
<li class="o">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>。</li> <span class="trans">I'm extremely busy tonight. I'd better do work.</span>
 
−
<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><span class="trans">I heard this movie wasn't good. We had better watch the other one.</span>
 
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<li class="o">今天 的 作业 特别 难，我们 <em>还是</em> 问 老师 <strong>吧</strong>。</li><span class="trans">Today's homework is especially hard. We had better ask the teacher.</span>
 
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<li class="x">我 困死了，<strong>或者</strong> 回家 睡觉 <strong>吧</strong>。</li><span class="expl">"或者" isn't used for suggestions.</span>
 
−
<li class="x">我 非常 无聊，我们 <strong>或者</strong> 出去玩 <strong>吧</strong>。</li><span class="expl">"或者" isn't used for suggestions.</span>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
 
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== 或者 is used to give options in declarative sentences ==
 
−
 
 
−
[["Or" in statements|或者 is used in declarative sentences in which options are presented.]]
 
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
−
option1 + 或者 + option2
+
Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2
 
</div>
 
</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.
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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 ===
 
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<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><span class="trans">Either tomorrow or the day after, I'm going to meet my friends.</span>
+
*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><span class="trans">Today at noon, I will eat a sandwich or a hamburger.</span>
+
*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>
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<li class="x">今天 晚上 我 要 看 书 <strong>还是</strong> 听 音乐。</li><span class="expl">Since it's declarative, it uses "或者"</span>
+
*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>
 
</div>
  
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== 或者 can be repeated when providing options ==
+
== 还是 for Questions That Are Embedded in Sentences ==
  
−
[[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.]]
+
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.
  
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===Structure===
+
A few examples:
 +
 
 +
<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>
 
</div>
  
−
Almost anything can be placed after either 或者.
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== Incorrect Examples ==
  
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===Examples===
+
<div class="liju">
  
−
<div class="liju">
 
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
−
<li class="o">只 有 一 块 蛋糕，<em>或者</em> 你 吃 <em>或者</em> 我 吃。</li><span class="trans">There's only one piece of cake. Either you eat it, or I do.</span>
+
<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>
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<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><span class="trans">Either study Chinese or law, don't study anything else.</span>
+
<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 <strong>还是</strong> 去 爬山 <strong>还是</strong> 泡温泉。</li><span class="expl">It's declarative, so it uses "或者"</span>
+
<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>
 
</ul>
 +
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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* [["Or" in statements]]
 
* [["Or" in statements]]
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* [[Providing two options with double "huozhe"]]
 
 
* [[Offering choices with "haishi"]]
 
* [[Offering choices with "haishi"]]
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* [["Had better" with "haishi"]]
 
  
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
Line 118: Line 80:
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[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}}
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* [[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}}
  
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===Websites===
+
=== Websites ===
  
−
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0213.html/ Comparing 还是 and 或者]
+
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0213.html Comparing 还是 and 或者]
  
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
−
{{Basic Grammar|还是|B1|还是 vs 或者|你 喝 茶 <em>还是</em> 喝 咖啡？明天 <em>或者</em> 后天。|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|或者}}
 +
{{Rel char|还}}
 +
{{Rel char|是}}
 
{{Similar|"Or" in statements}}
 
{{Similar|"Or" in statements}}
−
{{Similar|Providing two options with double "huozhe"}}
 
 
{{Similar|Offering choices with "haishi"}}
 
{{Similar|Offering choices with "haishi"}}
−
{{Similar|"Had better" with "haishi"}}
 
 
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
−
{{Comparison}}
+
{{Translation|or}}
 +
{{Comparison|Conjunctions}}

Latest revision as of 03:33, 8 October 2019

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.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites


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