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

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In English, "or" can be used to connect words when offering/considering choices (Chicken or beef?). It can also be used as an "either or" statement (it doesn't matter if you're tall or short), in Chinese, this is what 或者 (huòzhě) is used for.
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In English, "or" can be used to connect words when offering/considering choices (chicken or beef?). It can also be used as an "either or" statement (it doesn't matter if you're tall or short), in Chinese, this is what 或者 (huòzhě) is used for.
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  

Revision as of 01:51, 18 June 2015

In English, "or" can be used to connect words when offering/considering choices (chicken or beef?). It can also be used as an "either or" statement (it doesn't matter if you're tall or short), in Chinese, this is what 或者 (huòzhě) is used for.

Structure

While 还是 (háishì) is used for "or" in questions, 或者 (huòzhě) is used for "or" in statements.

Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2

Examples

  • 我 想 去 青岛 或者 南京 。 Wǒ xiǎng qù Qīngdǎo huòzhě Nánjīng. I want to go to Qingdao or Nanjing.
  • 你 去 或者 我 去 , 都 可以 。 Nǐ qù huòzhě wǒ qù, dōu kěyǐ. You go or I go, either way is fine.
  • 星期六 或者 星期天 都 可以 。 Xīngqīliù huòzhě xīngqītiān dōu kěyǐ. Saturday or Sunday are both ok.
  • 周末 的 时候 , 我 喜欢 做 饭 或者 看 电影 。 Zhōumò de shíhou, wǒ xǐhuan zuò fàn huòzhě kān diànyǐng. During the weekend, I like to cook or watch movies.
  • 今天 晚上 我 想 吃 披萨 或者汉堡 。 Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ xiǎng chī pīsà huòzhěhànbǎo. Tonight I want to eat pizza or hamburgers.
  • 下 个 月 我 打算 去 杭州 或者 苏州 旅行 。 Xià gè yuè wǒ dǎsuàn qù Hángzhōu huòzhě Sūzhōu lǚxíng. Next month I plan to go to Hangzhou or Suzhou to travel.
  • 圣诞节 我们 回 美国 或者 呆 在 中国 。 Shèngdànjié wǒmen huí Měiguó huòzhě dāi zài Zhōngguó. This Christmas we are returning to America or staying in China.
  • 晚饭 以后 我 喜欢 和 家人 聊天 或者 喝茶 。 Wǎnfàn yǐhòu wǒ xǐhuan hé jiārén liáotiān huòzhě hēchá. After dinner I like to chat or drink tea with my family.
  • 你 需要 筷子 或者叉子 。 Nǐ xūyào kuàizi huòzhěchāzi. You need chopsticks or fork.
  • 你 可以 用 手机 或者 电脑 。 Nǐ kěyǐ yòng shǒujī huòzhě diànnǎo. You can use either a cellphone or computer.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites