Difference between revisions of "Expressing "or" in statements"
 
(57 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{Grammar Box}}
+
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
−
In English, "or" can used 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.
+
In English, "or" can be used to connect words when offering or considering choices ("do you want chicken or beef?"). It can also be used as an "or" ''statement'' ("it doesn't matter if we eat chicken or beef"), in Chinese, this is what 或者 (huòzhě) is used for.
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
−
Whilst 还是 is used for [[Offering choices with haishi|"or" in questions]], 或者 is used for "or" in '''statements'''.
+
While 还是 (háishì) is used for [[Offering choices with "haishi"|"or" in questions]], 或者 (huòzhě) is used for "or" in '''statements.'''  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Line 17: Line 17:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
−
* 我 想 去 青岛 <em>或者</em> 南京。<span class="trans">I would like to go to Qingdao or Beijing.</span>
+
* 我 喝 <strong>咖啡</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>茶</strong> ，都 行。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hē <strong>kāfēi</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>chá</strong>, dōu xíng.</span><span class="trans">I drink coffee or tea. Either is OK.</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>
+
* <strong>星期六</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>星期天</strong> ， 都 可以 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xīngqīliù</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>Xīngqītiān</strong>, dōu kěyǐ.</span><span class="trans">Saturday or Sunday are both OK.</span>
−
* 晚上 的 时候，我 一般 喜欢 喝 啤酒 <em>或者</em> 葡萄酒。<span class="trans"></span>
+
* 今天 晚上 我 想 吃 <strong>披萨</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>寿司</strong>。<span class="pinyin"> Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ xiǎng chī <strong>pīsà</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>shòusī</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Tonight I would like to eat pizza or sushi.</span>
−
* 周末的时候，我喜欢做做饭<em>或者</em>看看电影。<span class="trans"></span>
+
* 周末 的 时候，我 喜欢 在 家 <strong>做饭</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>看 电影</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò de shíhou, wǒ xǐhuan zài jiā <strong>zuòfàn</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>kàn diànyǐng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">During the weekend, I like to cook or watch movies at home.</span>
−
* 今天晚上我想吃比萨<em>或者</em>汉堡。<span class="trans"></span>
+
* <strong>你 去</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>她 去</strong> ，都 可以 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Nǐ qù</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>tā qù</strong>, dōu kěyǐ.  </span><span class="trans">You go or she goes, either way is fine.</span>
−
* 下个月我打算去杭州<em>或者</em>苏州旅行。<span class="trans"></span>
+
* 下班 以后 <strong>我 去 你 家</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>你 来 我 家</strong> ， 都 可以。<span class="pinyin">Xiàbān yǐhòu <strong>wǒ qù nǐ jiā</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>nǐ lái wǒ jiā</strong>, dōu kěyǐ.</span><span class="trans">After work I will go to your house, or you can come to my house, either way is fine.</span>
−
* 圣诞节我们回美国<em>或者</em>留在中国。<span class="trans"></span>
+
* 下 个 月 我 打算 去 <strong>杭州</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>苏州</strong> 旅行。<span class="pinyin">Xià gè yuè wǒ dǎsuàn qù <strong>Hángzhōu</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>Sūzhōu</strong> lǚxíng.</span><span class="trans">Next month I plan to go to Hangzhou or Suzhou to travel.</span>
−
* 晚饭以后我喜欢和家人聊聊天<em>或者</em>喝喝茶。<span class="trans"></span>
+
* 我们 可以 <strong>坐 飞机</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>坐 高铁</strong> 去。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen kěyǐ <strong>zuò fēijī</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>zuò gāotiě</strong> qù.</span><span class="trans">We can go by plane or by high-speed train.</span>
−
* 他不喜欢住酒店<em>或者</em>旅馆。 <span class="trans"></span>
+
* 晚饭 以后 我 和 家人 <strong>聊天</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>看 电视</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǎnfàn yǐhòu wǒ hé jiārén <strong>liáotiān</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>kàn diànshì</strong>.</span><span class="trans">After dinner I chat with or watch TV with my family.</span>
−
* 中国人习惯在过年的时候吃饺子<em>或者</em>吃团圆饭 。<span class="trans"></span>
+
* 你 可以 用 <strong>手机</strong> <em>或者</em> <strong>电脑</strong> 上网。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ yòng <strong>shǒujī</strong> <em>huòzhě</em> <strong>diànnǎo</strong> shàngwǎng.</span><span class="trans">You can use either a cell phone or computer to go online.</span>
−
 
 
−
 
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
−
*[[Offering choices with haishi]]
+
*[[Offering choices with "haishi"]]
 
*[[Providing two options with double "huozhe"]] (advanced article)
 
*[[Providing two options with double "huozhe"]] (advanced article)
  
Line 40: Line 38:
 
=== Books ===
 
=== 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]
+
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|74-5}}
−
* [[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]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|257-8}}
−
* [[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]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|239-40}}
−
 
 
−
=== 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]]
 
[[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}}
+
{{HSK|HSK3}}
 +
{{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}}
−
{{Rel char|者}}
 
 
{{Similar|Offering choices with haishi}}   
 
{{Similar|Offering choices with haishi}}   
 
{{Similar|Providing two options with double "huozhe"}}
 
{{Similar|Providing two options with double "huozhe"}}

Latest revision as of 09:51, 2 April 2019

In English, "or" can be used to connect words when offering or considering choices ("do you want chicken or beef?"). It can also be used as an "or" statement ("it doesn't matter if we eat chicken or beef"), 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 喝 咖啡 或者 茶 ，都 行。Wǒ hē kāfēi huòzhě chá, dōu xíng.I drink coffee or tea. Either is OK.
  • 星期六 或者 星期天 ， 都 可以 。 Xīngqīliù huòzhě Xīngqītiān, dōu kěyǐ.Saturday or Sunday are both OK.
  • 今天 晚上 我 想 吃 披萨 或者 寿司。 Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ xiǎng chī pīsà huòzhě shòusī.Tonight I would like to eat pizza or sushi.
  • 周末 的 时候，我 喜欢 在 家 做饭 或者 看 电影 。Zhōumò de shíhou, wǒ xǐhuan zài jiā zuòfàn huòzhě kàn diànyǐng.During the weekend, I like to cook or watch movies at home.
  • 你 去 或者 她 去 ，都 可以 。Nǐ qù huòzhě tā qù, dōu kěyǐ. You go or she goes, either way is fine.
  • 下班 以后 我 去 你 家 或者 你 来 我 家 ， 都 可以。Xiàbān yǐhòu wǒ qù nǐ jiā huòzhě nǐ lái wǒ jiā, dōu kěyǐ.After work I will go to your house, or you can come to my house, either way is fine.
  • 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.
  • 我们 可以 坐 飞机 或者 坐 高铁 去。Wǒmen kěyǐ zuò fēijī huòzhě zuò gāotiě qù.We can go by plane or by high-speed train.
  • 晚饭 以后 我 和 家人 聊天 或者 看 电视 。Wǎnfàn yǐhòu wǒ hé jiārén liáotiān huòzhě kàn diànshì.After dinner I chat with or watch TV with my family.
  • 你 可以 用 手机 或者 电脑 上网。Nǐ kěyǐ yòng shǒujī huòzhě diànnǎo shàngwǎng.You can use either a cell phone or computer to go online.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Retrieved from "https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Expressing_%22or%22_in_statements&oldid=44501"