Difference between revisions of "Expressing "or" in statements"
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| − | * 我 想 去 青岛 <em>或者</em> 南京。<span class="trans">I | + | * 我 想 去 青岛 <em>或者</em> 南京。<span class="trans">I want to go to Qingdao or Nanjing.</span> |
* 你 去 <em>或者</em> 我 去，都 可以。<span class="trans">You go or I go, either way is fine.</span> | * 你 去 <em>或者</em> 我 去，都 可以。<span class="trans">You go or I go, either way is fine.</span> | ||
* 晚上 的 时候，我 一般 喜欢 喝 啤酒 <em>或者</em> 葡萄酒。<span class="trans">Usually I prefer some beer or red wine in the evening.</span> | * 晚上 的 时候，我 一般 喜欢 喝 啤酒 <em>或者</em> 葡萄酒。<span class="trans">Usually I prefer some beer or red wine in the evening.</span> | ||
| − | * 周末的时候，我喜欢做做饭<em>或者</em>看看电影。<span class="trans">I | + | * 周末的时候，我喜欢做做饭<em>或者</em>看看电影。<span class="trans">During the weekend, I like to cook or watch movies.</span> |
| − | * 今天晚上我想吃比萨<em>或者</em>汉堡。<span class="trans"> | + | * 今天晚上我想吃比萨<em>或者</em>汉堡。<span class="trans">Tonight I want to eat pizza or hamburgers.</span> |
| − | * 下个月我打算去杭州<em>或者</em>苏州旅行。<span class="trans">I | + | * 下个月我打算去杭州<em>或者</em>苏州旅行。<span class="trans">Next month I plan to go to Hangzhou or Suzhou to travel.</span> |
| − | * 圣诞节我们回美国<em>或者</em>留在中国。<span class="trans"> | + | * 圣诞节我们回美国<em>或者</em>留在中国。<span class="trans">This Christmas we are returning to America or staying in China.</span> |
| − | * 晚饭以后我喜欢和家人聊聊天<em>或者</em>喝喝茶。<span class="trans">I | + | * 晚饭以后我喜欢和家人聊聊天<em>或者</em>喝喝茶。<span class="trans">After dinner I like to chat or drink tea with my family.</span> |
* 他不喜欢抽烟<em>或者</em>喝酒。 <span class="trans">He doesn't like smoking or drinking.</span> | * 他不喜欢抽烟<em>或者</em>喝酒。 <span class="trans">He doesn't like smoking or drinking.</span> | ||
| − | * 你可以用手机<em>或者</em>电脑来查生词。<span class="trans">You can use either cellphone or computer to look up those new words. </span> | + | * 你可以用手机<em>或者</em>电脑来查生词。<span class="trans">You can use either a cellphone or computer to look up those new words.</span> |
Revision as of 09:33, 15 November 2013
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
In English, "or" can be used in the sense of having a choice (Chicken or beef?), and as an "either or" statement (it doesn't matter if you're black or white). In Chinese, 或者(huòzhě) is used for the latter.
Structure
Whilst 还是 is used for "or" in questions, 或者 is used for "or" in statements.
Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2
Examples
- 我 想 去 青岛 或者 南京。I want to go to Qingdao or Nanjing.
- 你 去 或者 我 去，都 可以。You go or I go, either way is fine.
- 晚上 的 时候，我 一般 喜欢 喝 啤酒 或者 葡萄酒。Usually I prefer some beer or red wine in the evening.
- 周末的时候，我喜欢做做饭或者看看电影。During the weekend, I like to cook or watch movies.
- 今天晚上我想吃比萨或者汉堡。Tonight I want to eat pizza or hamburgers.
- 下个月我打算去杭州或者苏州旅行。Next month I plan to go to Hangzhou or Suzhou to travel.
- 圣诞节我们回美国或者留在中国。This Christmas we are returning to America or staying in China.
- 晚饭以后我喜欢和家人聊聊天或者喝喝茶。After dinner I like to chat or drink tea with my family.
- 他不喜欢抽烟或者喝酒。 He doesn't like smoking or drinking.
- 你可以用手机或者电脑来查生词。You can use either a cellphone or computer to look up those new words.
See also
- Offering choices with haishi
- Providing two options with double "huozhe" (advanced article)
Sources and further reading
Books
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 74-5) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 257-8) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 239-40) →buy
Websites
- East Asia Student: The difference between 还是 and 或者
