Difference between revisions of "Offering choices with "haishi""
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|+还是 questions | |+还是 questions | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | ! Subject !! Verb !! Option A !! 还是 !! Option B || | + | ! Subject !! Verb !! Option A !! 还是 !! Option B || !! Translation |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | 你 || 要 || 茶 || <em>还是</em> || 咖啡 || ？ | + | | 你 || 要 || 茶 || <em>还是</em> || 咖啡 || ？|| <span class="spaced">Do you want tea or coffee?</span> |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | 你 || 是 || 美国人 || <em>还是</em> || 英国人 || ？ | + | | 你 || 是 || 美国人 || <em>还是</em> || 英国人 || ？|| <span class="spaced">Are you American or English?</span> |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | 你 || 喜欢 || 啤酒 || <em>还是</em> || 葡萄酒 || ？ | + | | 你 || 喜欢 || 啤酒 || <em>还是</em> || 葡萄酒 || ？|| <span class="spaced">Do you like beer or wine?</span> |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | 他 || 是 || 医生 || <em>还是</em> || 老师 || ？ | + | | 他 || 是 || 医生 || <em>还是</em> || 老师 || ？|| <span class="spaced">Is he a doctor or a teacher?</span> |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | 你 || 想吃 || 中国菜 || <em>还是</em> || 法国菜 || ？ | + | | 你 || 想吃 || 中国菜 || <em>还是</em> || 法国菜 || ？|| <span class="spaced">Do you want to eat Chinese food or French food?</span> |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | 那 || 是 || 大猫 || <em>还是</em> || 小老虎 || ？ | + | | 那 || 是 || 大猫 || <em>还是</em> || 小老虎 || ？|| <span class="spaced">Is that a big cat or a little tiger?</span> |
|} | |} | ||
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{{Similar|"Had better" with "haishi"}} | {{Similar|"Had better" with "haishi"}} | ||
{{Similar|Providing two options with double "huozhe"}} | {{Similar|Providing two options with double "huozhe"}} | ||
| − | {{Structure| | + | {{Structure|Q |
Revision as of 01:58, 29 January 2013
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
还是 (háishì) is used in Chinese to provide options in a question. This is equivalent to one use of "or" in English.
Structure
Option A + 还是 + Option B
You can then put this into all kinds of questions with the following structure:
Subject + Verb + Option A + 还是 + Option B
Examples
| Subject | Verb | Option A | 还是 | Option B | Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 你 | 要 | 茶 | 还是 | 咖啡 | ？ | Do you want tea or coffee? |
| 你 | 是 | 美国人 | 还是 | 英国人 | ？ | Are you American or English? |
| 你 | 喜欢 | 啤酒 | 还是 | 葡萄酒 | ？ | Do you like beer or wine? |
| 他 | 是 | 医生 | 还是 | 老师 | ？ | Is he a doctor or a teacher? |
| 你 | 想吃 | 中国菜 | 还是 | 法国菜 | ？ | Do you want to eat Chinese food or French food? |
| 那 | 是 | 大猫 | 还是 | 小老虎 | ？ | Is that a big cat or a little tiger? |
Please note that 还是 is for offering options in a question. It should not be used for "or" in statements (see below).
See also
- "Or" in statements
- "Had better" with "haishi" (advanced article)
- Providing two options with double "huozhe" (advanced article)
Sources and Further Reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 76-7, 257-8) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 179) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 206-7, 251) →buy
Websites
- East Asia Student: The difference between 还是 and 或者
{{Structure|Q
