Expressing "either... or..." with "yaome"

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:

要么 used for Suggestions

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 used for suggestions.

situation,要么 + Option B

Examples

  • 老板 今天 不 在,要么 你们 明天 再 来 吧。The boss isn't here today. How about if you all come back tomorrow?
  • 大家 都 觉得 累 得 不 行 了,要么 休息 一会儿 吧。Everyone is super tired. Why don't we rest for a while?
  • 最近 这 段 时间 大家 都 比较 忙,要么 过 段 时间 再 聚 吧。Recently everyone has been pretty busy. How about we meet up after this busy period has passed?
  • 我 周末 还 没 安排,要么 你们 来 我 家 一起 做饭 吧。I don't have plans for the weekend. How about you guys come to my place and we cook dinner together?
  • 我 现在 没 那么 多 现金,要么 先 把 我 的 身份证 放 在 你 这儿 吧。I don't have that much cash right now. How about I leave my ID card with you for now?

要么 used to Express Limited Options

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 要么别 买.
  • 要么 快点 找工作要么 准备 考研,不能 什么 都 不 做。.
  • 去年 暑假,我 每天 要么 去 健身要么 去 图书馆,特别 无聊。.
  • 要么 去 看 电视要么 出去 玩,不要 来 打扰 我 工作。.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books