Comparing "haishi" and "huozhe"

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 Provide Choices in A Question

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

Structure

Option A + 还是 + Option B ?

Examples

• 她 喜欢 你 还是 他 ？Tā xǐhuan nǐ háishì tā? Does she like you or him?
• 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 order take-out?

或者 for Giving Options in 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

• 明天 或者 后天 都 行 。Míngtiān huòzhě hòutiān dōu xíng.Either tomorrow or the day after is fine.
• 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.
• 周末 我 想 在 家 看书 或者 看 电影 。Zhōumò wǒ xiǎng zài jiā kànshū huòzhě kàn diànyǐng.I'd like to stay at home reading or watching some movies.

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.

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 不 清楚 是 我们 先 走 还是 等 他们 一起 走。Wǒ bù qīngchu shì wǒmen xiān zǒu háishì děng tāmen yīqǐ zǒu.I'm not sure if we should leave first, or wait for them and leave together.
• 老板 不 确定 是 这个 星期 出差 或者 下 个 星期 出差 。The boss isn't sure if he's going on business trips this week or next week.

Wrong example:

• 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I want to know if that person is male or female.

See also

• "Or" in statements
• Offering choices with "haishi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 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