Haishi and huozhe

Both are conjuction that can be translated as „or“ into english. In general 或者 is mainly used in questions, while 还是 is mainly used in interrogative sentences. However there is also a more complex grammar.

或者 (或是 - 书面语)

It indicates, that there is no other option:

Structure:

N1 或者 N2

Example:

他明天来或者后天来？

Structure:

V1 或者 V2

Example:

她到底要结婚或者不结婚？

Expresing alternatives

Structure

Statement + 或者 V1/N1 或者 V2/N1

Example

我明天不打算去上班，我或者睡觉，或者躺着看书。

Showing equivalence

Structure

N1 或者 N2 + statement

Example

蕃茄或者西红柿，是中国人最常吃的蔬菜。

还是

Is often express uncertainity, choices.

Structure

是 N1 还是 N2

Example

你是老师还是学生？

Structure

(是) V1 还是 V2

Example

他(是)去那边还是来这边？

Structure

Quastion A 还是 B

Example

他去哪里，北京还是上海？

Structure

(是) V1 还是不V1

Example

他是来还是不来？

It can be also used in sentenmces, that are not questions. It is often expresed with “不知道”“没决定”etc. to express uncertainty

Structure

uncertainty + possibility 1 还是 possibility 2

Example

我不知道他赚钱多还是不多。

It can be also used decision that is made after comparing several options.

Structure

Option 1 还是 Option 2 ?

还是 chosen option

Example

你想吃猪肉还是牛肉？

我还是吃牛肉(吧)。

First expressing the choices and afterwards expresing speakers own opinion.

Structure

Statement 1 还是 Statement 2, speaker’s opinion

Example

你想用自己的电脑，还是公司的电脑，我真的无所谓。

• Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼) (pp. 100 - 101) →buy
• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 257 - 261) →buy
• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 74) →buy

对外汉语教学语法释疑201例 (pp. 351)