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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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.
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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'''.
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While 还是 (háishì) is used for [[Offering choices with "haishi"|"or" in questions]], 或者 (huòzhě) is used for "or" in '''statements.'''  
  
 
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* 我 想 去 青岛 <em>或者</em> 南京。<span class="trans">I want to go to Qingdao or Nanjing.</span>
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* 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>
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* <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>
* 星期六 <em>或者</em> 星期天 都 可以。<span class="trans">Saturday or Sunday are both ok.</span>
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* 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 饭 <em>或者</em> 看 电影。<span class="trans">During the weekend, I like to cook or watch movies.</span>
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* 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 想 吃 披萨 <em>或者</em>汉堡。<span class="trans">Tonight I want to eat pizza or hamburgers.</span>
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* <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">Next month I plan to go to Hangzhou or Suzhou to travel.</span>
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* 下班 以后 <strong>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> 呆 在 中国。<span class="trans">This Christmas we are returning to America or staying in China.</span>
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* 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 聊天<em>或者</em>喝茶。<span class="trans">After dinner I like to chat or drink tea with my family.</span>
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* 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>
* 需要 筷子 <em>或者</em>叉子。 <span class="trans">You need chopsticks or fork.</span>
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* 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>
*  你 可以 用 手机 <em>或者</em> 电脑。<span class="trans">You can use either a cellphone or computer.</span>
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* 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]]
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*[[Offering choices with "haishi"]]
 
*[[Providing two options with double "huozhe"]] (advanced article)
 
*[[Providing two options with double "huozhe"]] (advanced article)
  
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=== 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]
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{{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]
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{{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]
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{{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}}
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
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{{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 ,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