Difference between revisions of "Expressing "either... or..." with "yaome""
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You can give a series of alternatives by using 要么 (yàome). The structure is pretty versatile, as you can put a wide variety of things after each 要么: | You can give a series of alternatives by using 要么 (yàome). The structure is pretty versatile, as you can put a wide variety of things after each 要么: | ||
| − | == Used for | + | == Used for Making a Suggestion == |
===Structure=== | ===Structure=== | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *<em>要么</em> 你 去，<em>要么</em> 他 去 。<span class="trans">Either you go, or he goes.</span> | + | *<em>要么</em> 你 去，<em>要么</em> 他 去 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàome</em> nǐ qù, <em>yàome</em> tā qù.</span><span class="trans">Either you go, or he goes.</span> |
| − | *<em>要么</em> 现在 就 买 ，<em>要么</em> 就 别 买 。<span class="trans">Either buy it now, or don't buy it.</span> | + | *<em>要么</em> 现在 就 买 ，<em>要么</em> 就 别 买 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yàome</em>xiànzài jiù mǎi, <em>yàome</em> jiù bié mǎi.</span><span class="trans">Either buy it now, or don't buy it.</span> |
| − | *你 <em>要么</em> 快点 找 工作，<em>要么</em> 准备 考研 ，不能 什么 都 | + | *你 <em>要么</em> 快点 找 工作，<em>要么</em> 准备 考研 ，不能 什么 都 不做 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>yàome</em> kuàidiǎn zhǎo gōngzuò, <em>yàome</em> zhǔnbèi kǎoyán, bùnéng shénme dōu bù zuò.</span><span class="trans">Either hurry up and find a job or apply for grad school, but you can't just do nothing.</span> |
| − | *去年 | + | *去年 夏天 ，我 每天 <em>要么</em> 去 健身，<em>要么</em> 去 图书馆，特别 无聊 。<span class="pinyin">Qùnián xiàtiān, wǒ měi tiān <em>yàome</em> qù jiànshēn, <em>yàome</em> qù túshūguǎn, tèbié wúliáo.</span><span class="trans">Last summer I either went to the gym or the library every day. It was so boring.</span> |
| − | *我 老公 周末 <em>要么</em> 睡觉 ，<em>要么</em> 打 游戏 ，什么 家务 都 不做 。<span class="trans">My husband either sleep or play online games. He doesn't do any chores.</span> | + | *我 老公 周末 <em>要么</em> 睡觉 ，<em>要么</em> 打 游戏 ，什么 家务 都 不做 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ lǎogōng zhōumò <em>yàome</em> shuìjiào, <em>yàome</em> dǎ yóuxì, shénme jiāwù dōu bù zuò.</span><span class="trans">My husband either sleep or play online games. He doesn't do any chores.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | ==See also== | + | == See also == |
*[[Providing two options with double "huozhe"]] | *[[Providing two options with double "huozhe"]] | ||
Revision as of 09:08, 25 August 2017
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You can give a series of alternatives by using 要么 (yàome). The structure is pretty versatile, as you can put a wide variety of things after each 要么:
Contents
Used for Making a Suggestion
Structure
When used all by itself, 要么 starts the sentence and is used to give a suggestion. In this usage, it is very similar to 要不(yàobù).
Reason / Situation ，要么 + Option B (+ 吧)
or
要么 + Option ，Reason / Situation
Examples
- 老板 今天 不 在 ，要么 你们 明天 来 吧 。The boss isn't here today. How about if you all come back tomorrow?
- 大家 都 有点 累 了，要么 休息 一会儿 吧 。Everyone is a little tired. Why don't we rest for a while?
- 这个 星期 我 比较 忙，要么 下 个 星期 见 ？I'm pretty busy this week. How about we meet up next week?
- 我 周末 还 没 安排，要么 你们 来 我家 玩 吧。I don't have plans for the weekend. How about you guys come to my place and hang out?
- 我 的 现金 不 够 ，要么 我 用 支付宝 付 吧 。I don't have that much cash. How about I pay you by Alipay?
Used to Express Limited Options
When used by itself, 要么 is a not-so-pushy suggestion. But when used for a pair of choices, it gives a much more hardline "either/or" feel: these are the two choices. Choose one. (It can also be used for more than two choices, but it's usually just two.) In this case, 要不 acts exactly like 要么.
It can be used both for commands and non-commands.
Structure
要么 + Option A ，要么 + Option B
Examples
- 要么 你 去，要么 他 去 。Either you go, or he goes.
- 要么 现在 就 买 ，要么 就 别 买 。Either buy it now, or don't buy it.
- 你 要么 快点 找 工作，要么 准备 考研 ，不能 什么 都 不做 。Either hurry up and find a job or apply for grad school, but you can't just do nothing.
- 去年 夏天 ，我 每天 要么 去 健身，要么 去 图书馆，特别 无聊 。Last summer I either went to the gym or the library every day. It was so boring.
- 我 老公 周末 要么 睡觉 ，要么 打 游戏 ，什么 家务 都 不做 。My husband either sleep or play online games. He doesn't do any chores.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 158) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 165) →buy
