Difference between revisions of "Expressing "or" in statements"

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{{Grammar Box}} \r\nIn 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.\r\n== Structure ==\r\nWhilst 还是 is used for [[Offering choices with haishi|"or" in questions]], 或者 is used for "or" in '''statements'''. \r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nPossibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2\r\n</div>\r\n== Examples ==\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 我 想 去 青岛 <em>或者</em> 南京。<span class="trans">I want to go to Qingdao or Nanjing.</span>
 
 
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 [[Offering choices with haishi|"or" in questions]], 或者 is used for "or" in '''statements'''.  
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Examples ==
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
* 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>
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*  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>
 
*  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 a cellphone or computer to look up those new words.</span>
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*  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>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n==See also==
 
 
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
==See also==
 
 
*[[Offering choices with haishi]]
 
*[[Offering choices with haishi]]
*[[Providing two options with double "huozhe"]] (advanced article)
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*[[Providing two options with double "huozhe"]] (advanced article)\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 74-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
 
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
 
 
=== Books ===
 
 
 
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 74-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
 
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 257-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 257-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 239-40) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 239-40) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]\r\n=== Websites ===\r\n* East Asia Student: [http://eastasiastudent.net/2331/china/mandarin/cmn-grammar/difference-hai-shi-huo-zhe/ The difference between 还是 and 或者]\r\n[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
 
=== Websites ===
 
 
 
* East Asia Student: [http://eastasiastudent.net/2331/china/mandarin/cmn-grammar/difference-hai-shi-huo-zhe/ The difference between 还是 and 或者]
 
 
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
 
{{Basic Grammar|或者|A2|...或者…|我 想 去 青岛 <em>或者</em> 南京。|grammar point|ASG6HYOU}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|或者|A2|...或者…|我 想 去 青岛 <em>或者</em> 南京。|grammar point|ASG6HYOU}}
 
{{Rel char|或}}
 
{{Rel char|或}}

Revision as of 06:09, 26 November 2013

\r\nIn 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.\r\n== Structure ==\r\nWhilst 还是 is used for "or" in questions, 或者 is used for "or" in statements. \r\n

\r\nPossibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2\r\n

\r\n== Examples ==\r\n

\r\n* 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.\r\n\r\n

\r\n==See also==

  • Offering choices with haishi
  • Providing two options with double "huozhe" (advanced article)\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* 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\r\n=== Websites ===\r\n* East Asia Student: The difference between 还是 and 或者\r\n