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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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 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 [[Offering choices with haishi|"or" in questions]], 或者 (huòzhě) is used for "or" in '''statements.'''  
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== Structure ==
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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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=== Examples ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
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* 我 喝 咖啡 <em>或者</em> 茶, 都 行。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hē kāfēi <em>huòzhě</em> chá, dōu xíng. </span> <span class="trans">I drink coffee or tea. Either is OK. </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>
* 星期六 <em>或者</em> 星期天, 都 可以 。 <span class="pinyin">Xīngqīliù <em>huòzhě</em> xīngqītiān, dōu kěyǐ. </span> <span class="trans">Saturday or Sunday are both OK. </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>
* 今天 晚上 我 想 吃 披萨 <em>或者</em> 寿司。<span class="pinyin"> Jīntiān wǎnshang wǒ xiǎng chī pīsà <em>huòzhě</em> shòusī.</span> <span class="trans">Tonight I would like to eat pizza or sushi.</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 在家 做 饭 <em>或者</em> 看 电影。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò de shíhou, wǒ xǐhuan zài jiā zuò fàn <em>huòzhě</em> kàn diànyǐng. </span> <span class="trans">During the weekend, I like to cook or watch movies at home. </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>
* 你 去 <em>或者</em> 她 去,都 可以。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ qù <em>huòzhě</em> tā qù, dōu kěyǐ. </span> <span class="trans">You go or she goes, either way is fine. </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>
* 下班 以后 我 去 你 家 <em>或者</em> 你 来 我 家, 都 可以。<span class="pinyin">Xiàbān yǐhòu wǒ qù nǐ jiā <em>huòzhě</em> nǐ lái wǒ jiā, 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>
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* 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>
* 下 个 月 我 打算 去 杭州 <em>或者</em> 苏州 旅行。<span class="pinyin">Xià gè yuè wǒ dǎsuàn qù Hángzhōu <em>huòzhě</em> Sūzhōu lǚxíng. </span> <span class="trans">Next month I plan to go to Hangzhou or Suzhou to travel. </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>
* 我们 可以 坐 飞机 <em>或者</em> 坐 高铁 去。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen kěyǐ zuò fēijī <em>huòzhě</em> zuò gāotiě qù. </span> <span class="trans">We can go by plane or by high-speed train. </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>
* 晚饭 以后 我 喜欢 和 家人 聊天 <em>或者</em> 喝茶。<span class="pinyin">Wǎnfàn yǐhòu wǒ xǐhuan hé jiārén liáotiān <em>huòzhě</em> hē chá. </span> <span class="trans">After dinner I like to chat or drink tea with my family. </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 上网。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ yòng shǒujī <em>huòzhě</em> diànnǎo shàngwǎng. </span> <span class="trans">You can use either a cellphone or computer to go online. </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>
  
 
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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}}
  
 
[[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}}
 
{{Similar|Offering choices with haishi}}   
 
{{Similar|Offering choices with haishi}}   

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