Difference between revisions of "Comparing "haishi" and "huozhe""
 
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{{Grammar Box}}
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都是"or"的意思，表示选择，但是“还是”用在疑问句中，“或者”用在陈述句中。
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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.   
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Both 还是 (háishì) and 或者 (huòzhě) mean “or” and are used to present a choice. However, 还是 can only be used when asking a question and 或者 can only be used in a declarative sentence.   
 
  
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== 还是: general use ==
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== 还是 for Providing Choices as a Question ==
  
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“还是”用在疑问句中。
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[[Offering choices with "haishi"|When asking a question, 还是 can be used to provide choices or options.]]
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还是 is used for questions.
 
  
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===Structure===
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=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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option1 + 还是 + option2 + ？
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Option A + 还是 + Option B ?
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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===Examples===
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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* 你 喝 茶 <em>还是</em> 喝 咖啡 <strong>？</strong>
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* 你 喜欢 在 家 <em>还是</em> 出去 玩<strong>？</strong>
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*你 喜欢 他 <em>还是</em> 我 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan tā <em>háishì</em> wǒ? </span><span class="trans">Do you like him or me? </span>
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*你 喝 茶 <em>还是</em> 喝 咖啡 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ hē chá <em>háishì</em> hē kāfēi? </span><span class="trans">Do you drink tea or coffee? </span>
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*你 中午 出去 吃 <em>还是</em> 叫 外卖 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhōngwǔ chūqù chī <em>háishì</em> jiào wàimài? </span><span class="trans">Are you going out for lunch or ordering take-out? </span>
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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== 还是 is used to offer choices in a question ==
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== 或者 for Giving Options as a Statement ==
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When asking a question, 还是 can be used whenever the speaker needs to give choices or options.
 
  
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===Structure===
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[["Or" in statements|或者 is used in a statement in which options are presented.]]
  
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<div class="jiegou">
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=== Structure ===
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option1 + 还是 + option2 + ？
 
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</div>
 
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This grammar pattern is fairly flexible. You can create all kinds of questions with 还是 using the following structure.
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Subject + Verb + Option A + 还是 + Option B
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Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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===Examples===
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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.
  
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<div class="liju">
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=== Examples ===
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<ul>
 
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<li class="o">你 最 喜欢的 菜 是 中国菜 <em>还是</em> 日本菜。</li>
 
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<li class="o">昨天 晚上 你 看 电影 <em>还是</em> 做 作业。</li>
 
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<li class="x">你 吃 肉 <em>或者</em> 吃素。</li>
 
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<li class="x">你 学 普通话 <em>或者</em> 广东话。</li>
 
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</ul>
 
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</div>
 
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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
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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<ul>
 
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<li class="o">我 不 知道 这本书 是不是 他的 <em>还是</em> 我的。</li>
 
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<li class="o">我 要 知道 他 去 食堂 <em>还是</em> 饭馆 吃饭。</li>
 
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<li class="o"> 我 不 知道 我 现在 就 吃饭 <em>还是</em> 等 他们 一起 吃饭。</li>
 
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<li class="o">老板 现在 还 不 确定 是 这 个 周 出差 <em>还是</em> 下 个 周。</li>
 
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<li class="x">我 不 知道 他 要不要 看电影 <em>或者</em> 听 音乐。</li>
 
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</ul>
 
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</div> 
 
  
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== 或者 is used to give options in declarative sentences ==
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*周末 我 想 在 家 看书 <em>或者</em> 看 电影 。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò wǒ xiǎng zài jiā kànshū <em>huòzhě</em> kàn diànyǐng.</span><span class="trans">This weekend, I want to stay home and read or watch movies. </span>
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*你 可以 坐 1 号 线 <em>或者</em> 2 号线 去 人民 广场 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ zuò yī hào xiàn <em>huòzhě</em> èr hào xiàn qù Rénmín Guǎngchǎng.</span><span class="trans">You can take Line 1 or Line 2 to People's Square.</span>
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*我们 可以 电话 <em>或者</em> 邮件 联系 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen kěyǐ diànhuà <em>huòzhě</em> yóujiàn liánxì.</span><span class="trans">We can contact each other by phone or email.</span>
  
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“或者”用在陈述句中。
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</div>
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或者 is used in declarative sentences.
 
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=== Structure ===
 
  
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<div class="jiegou">
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== 还是 for Questions That Are Embedded in Sentences ==
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option1 + 或者 + option2
 
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</div>
 
  
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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.
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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.
  
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=== Examples ===
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A few examples:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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* 明天 <em>或者</em> 后天，我 要 和 我 的 朋友 见面。
 
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* 今天 中午 我 吃 三明治 <em>或者</em> 汉堡。
 
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</div>
 
  
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== 或者 can be repeated when providing options ==
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*我 <strong>不 知道 </strong> 这 本 书 是 他 的 <em>还是</em> 我 的 。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ <strong>bù zhīdào </strong> zhè běn shū shì tā de <em>háishì</em> wǒ de.</span><span class="trans">I don't know if this book is his or mine.</span>
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*我 <strong>想 知道</strong> 他们 是 支持 <em>还是</em> 反对 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>xiǎng zhīdào</strong> tāmen shì zhīchí <em>háishì</em> fǎnduì.</span><span class="trans">I want to know if they support or oppose.</span>
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*老板 <strong>不 确定</strong> 是 这 个 周末 出差 <em>还是</em> 下 个 周末 出差 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <strong>bù quèdìng</strong> shì zhège zhōumò chūchāi <em>háishì</em> xià gè zhōumò chūchāi.</span><span class="trans">The boss isn't sure if he's going on a business trip this weekend or next weekend.</span>
  
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Another easy way to use 或者 to give two options is to place 或者 before both options.
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</div>
  
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===Structure===
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== Incorrect Examples ==  
  
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== Right or Wrong ==
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<div class="liju">
  
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<div class="liju">
 
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
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<li class="x">你 是 中国人 <em>或者</em> 韩国人？</li>
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<li class="x">我们 打车 <strong>或者</strong> 坐 地铁 ？<span class="expl">Since it is a question, it should use 还是</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dǎchē <em>huòzhě</em> zuò dìtiě?</span><span class="trans">Shall we take a taxi or take the metro?</span></li>
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<li class="o">你 是 中国人 <em>还是</em> 韩国人？</li>
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<li class="x">明天 <em>还是</em> 后天 都 行 。<span class="expl">Since it is a statement, it should use 或者</span><span class="pinyin">Míngtiān <em>háishì</em> hòutiān dōu xíng.</span><span class="trans">Either tomorrow or the day after is fine.</span></li>
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<li class="x">我 还 没 想好 吃 中餐 <em>或者</em> 吃 西餐。</li>
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<li class="x">我 <strong>想 知道</strong> 那个 人 是 男的 <em>或者</em> 女的 。<span class="expl">It's an embedded question, so it should use 还是</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>xiǎng zhīdào</strong> nàge rén shì nánde <em>huòzhě</em> nǚde.</span><span class="trans">I'd like to know if that person is male or female.</span></li>
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<li class="o">我 还 没 想好 吃 中餐 <em>还是</em> 吃 西餐。</li>
 
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
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</div>
 
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== Dialog ==
 
  
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<div class="liju">
 
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* A: 你 要 喝 点 什么 酒？
 
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* B: 我 不 知道 我 要 喝 <em>还是</em> 不 要 喝。我 已经 喝 了 两 瓶 啤酒 了。
 
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* A: 那 你 喝 点 水 <em>或者</em> 果汁 吧。
 
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* B: 一 杯 水 吧。谢谢。
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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 +
* [["Or" in statements]]
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* [[Offering choices with "haishi"]]
  
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|23}}
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{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|74-5}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|257-8}}
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|144}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|259-60}}　
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|103}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|76-7, 257-8}}　
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|179}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)|206-7, 251}}
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{{Source|现代汉语八百词（增订本）|238}}
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=== Websites ===
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* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0213.html Comparing 还是 and 或者]
  
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
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{{Basic Grammar|还是|B1|还是 vs 或者|你 喝 茶 <em>还是</em> 喝 咖啡 <strong>？明天 <em>或者</em> 后天，我 要 和 我 的 朋友 见面。|grammar point|ASGQJ5IC}}
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
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{{Basic Grammar|还是|B1|还是 vs. 或者|我们 明天 见 <em>还是</em> 后天 见 ？明天 <em>或者</em> 后天 都 可以 。|grammar point|ASGQJ5IC}}
 
{{Rel char|或者}}
 
{{Rel char|或者}}
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{{Rel char|还}}
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{{Rel char|是}}
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{{Similar|"Or" in statements}}
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{{Similar|Offering choices with "haishi"}}
 
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
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{{Comparison}}
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{{Translation|or}}
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{{Comparison|Conjunctions}}

Latest revision as of 03:33, 8 October 2019

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 Providing Choices as a Question

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

Structure

Option A + 还是 + Option B ?

Examples

  • 你 喜欢 他 还是 我 ？Nǐ xǐhuan tā háishì wǒ? Do you like him or me?
  • 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 ordering take-out?

或者 for Giving Options as 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

  • 周末 我 想 在 家 看书 或者 看 电影 。Zhōumò wǒ xiǎng zài jiā kànshū huòzhě kàn diànyǐng.This weekend, I want to stay home and read or watch movies.
  • 你 可以 坐 1 号 线 或者 2 号线 去 人民 广场 。Nǐ kěyǐ zuò yī hào xiàn huòzhě èr hào xiàn qù Rénmín Guǎngchǎng.You can take Line 1 or Line 2 to People's Square.
  • 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.

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.

A few 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 想 知道 他们 是 支持 还是 反对 。Wǒ xiǎng zhīdào tāmen shì zhīchí háishì fǎnduì.I want to know if they support or oppose.
  • 老板 不 确定 是 这 个 周末 出差 还是 下 个 周末 出差 。Lǎobǎn bù quèdìng shì zhège zhōumò chūchāi háishì xià gè zhōumò chūchāi.The boss isn't sure if he's going on a business trip this weekend or next weekend.

Incorrect Examples

  • 我们 打车 或者 坐 地铁 ？Since it is a question, it should use 还是Wǒmen dǎchē huòzhě zuò dìtiě?Shall we take a taxi or take the metro?
  • 明天 还是 后天 都 行 。Since it is a statement, it should use 或者Míngtiān háishì hòutiān dōu xíng.Either tomorrow or the day after is fine.
  • 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Wǒ xiǎng zhīdào nàge rén shì nánde huòzhě nǚde.I'd like to know if that person is male or female.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites


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