Difference between revisions of "Offering choices with "haishi""

Revision as of 05:50, 8 July 2013

还是 (háishì) is used in Chinese to provide options in a question. This is equivalent to one use of "or" in English.

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

还是 questions
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).

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
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 * [[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]
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 === Websites ===