Difference between revisions of "Offering choices with "haishi""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
还是 (háishì) is used in Chinese to provide options in a '''question'''. This is equivalent to one use of "or" in English.  
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还是 (háishì) is used in Chinese to provide options in a '''question'''. This is equivalent to one of our uses of "or" in English.  
  
 
== Simplest Form ==
 
== Simplest Form ==
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
Option A + 还是 + Option B ?
 
Option A + 还是 + Option B ?
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
When you're asked a question of this form, there are two ways you're expected to answer: either Option A or Option B.  (Pick one, but not both.)  It's not that no other answers are possible, it's that usually when you're asked a question this way, the person asking expects you to just choose one.  For example, if asked if you'd like to drink coffee or tea, most people are going to choose one or the other, not ask for both. 还是 is used to ask people to make that choice between the two.
+
When you're asked a question of this form, there are two ways you're expected to answer: either Option A or Option B.  (Pick one, but not both.)  It's not that no other answers are possible, it's that usually when you're asked a question this way, the person asking expects you to just choose one.  For example, if asked if you'd like to drink coffee or tea, most people are going to choose one or the other, not ask for both. 还是 (háishì) is used to ask people to make that choice between the two.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <strong>我</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>他</strong> ? <span class="trans">Me or him?</span>
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* <strong>我</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>他</strong> ? <span class="pinyin"><strong></strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>tā?</strong></span><span class="trans">Me or him?</span>
* <strong>上海</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>北京</strong> ? <span class="expl">(The eternal China expat question! Choose wisely...)</span><span class="trans">Shanghai or Beijing?</span>
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* <strong>一 个</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>两 个</strong> ? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Yī gè</strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>liǎng gè</strong>?</span><span class="trans">One or two?</span>
* <strong>啤酒</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>葡萄酒</strong> ? <span class="trans">Beer or wine?</span>
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* <strong>辣 的</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>不 辣 的</strong>?<span class="pinyin"><strong>Là de</strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>bù là de</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Spicy or non-spicy?</span>
* <strong></strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>咖啡</strong> <span class="trans">Tea or coffee?</span>
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* <strong>的</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>的</strong>?<span class="pinyin"><strong>Bīng de</strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>rè de</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Cold or hot?</span>
* <strong>一 个</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>两 个</strong> ? <span class="trans">One or two?</span>
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* <strong>上海</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>北京</strong> ? <span class="expl">The eternal China expat question! Choose wisely...</span><span class="pinyin"><strong>Shànghǎi</strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>Běijīng?</strong></span><span class="trans">Shanghai or Beijing?</span>
* <strong>地铁</strong> <em> 还是</em> <strong>出租车</strong>
 
* <strong>巧克力 的</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>抹茶 的</strong>?
 
* <strong>拿铁</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>摩卡</strong>
 
* <strong>冰 的</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>热 的</strong>?
 
* <strong>辣 的</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>不 辣 的</strong>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + Verb + Option A + 还是 + Option B ?
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Subj. + Verb + Option A + 还是 + Option B ?
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 你 要 <strong></strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>咖啡</strong> ? <span class="trans">Do you want tea or coffee?</span>
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* 这 是 <strong></strong> <em>还是</em> <strong></strong> ? <span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <strong>shuǐ </strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>jiǔ</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Is this water or alcohol?</span>
* 你 要 <strong>一 个</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>两 个</strong> <span class="trans">Do you want one or two?</span>
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* 是 <strong>美国 人</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>英国 人</strong> ? <span class="pinyin">Tā shì <strong>Měiguó rén </strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>Yīngguó rén</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Is he American or British?</span>
* 是 <strong>美国 人</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>英国 人</strong> ? <span class="trans">Are you American or English?</span>
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* 你 喜欢 <strong></strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>我 的 钱</strong> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan <strong></strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>wǒ de qián</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Do you like me or my money?</span>
* 他 是 <strong>医生</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>老师</strong> <span class="trans">Is he a doctor or a teacher?</span>
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* 你 要 喝 <strong></strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>咖啡</strong> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào hē <strong>chá</strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>kāfēi</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Do you want  to drink tea or coffee?</span>
* 你 喜欢 <strong>啤酒</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>葡萄酒</strong> ? <span class="trans">Do you like beer or wine?</span>
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* 你们 想 吃 <strong>中国 菜</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>法国 菜</strong> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen xiǎng chī <strong>Zhōngguó cài </strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>Fǎguó cài</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Do you want to eat Chinese food or French food?</span>
* 你 喜欢 <strong>上海</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>北京</strong> ? <span class="trans">Do you like Shanghai or Beijing?</span>
 
* 你 喜欢 <strong>我</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>我 的 钱</strong> ? <span class="trans">Do you like me or my money?</span>
 
* 你 想 吃 <strong>中国 菜</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>法国 菜</strong> ? <span class="trans">Do you want to eat Chinese food or French food?</span>
 
* 你 想 去 <strong>香港</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>泰国</strong> <span class="trans">Do you want to go to Hong Kong or Thailand?</span>
 
* 这 是 <strong></strong> <em>还是</em> <strong></strong> ? <span class="trans">Is this water or wine?</span>
 
* 你 喜欢 说 <strong>普通话</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>广东话</strong> ? <span class="expl">(The expected answer is one or the other, not "both")</span><span class="trans">Do you like speaking Mandarin or Cantonese?</span>
 
* 你 想 要 <strong>小狗</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>小猫</strong> ? <span class="expl">(The expected answer is one or the other, not "both")</span><span class="trans">Do you want a puppy or a kitten?</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Please note that 还是 is for offering options in a ''question''.  It should not be used for [["or" in statements]] (see below).
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Please note that 还是 (háishì) is for offering options in a '''question'''.  It should not be used for [[Expressing "or" in statements|"or" in statements]].
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 76-7, 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|HSK Standard Course 3|23}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 179) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|76-7, 257-8}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 206-7, 251) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|179}}
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)]] (p. 125)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)|206-7, 251}}
 +
{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)|125}}
  
 
=== Websites ===
 
=== 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]
 
 
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0213.html Comparing 还是 and 或者]
 
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0213.html Comparing 还是 and 或者]
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|还是|A1|A + 还是 + B ?|你 要 茶 <em>还是</em> 咖啡 ?|grammar point|ASGA8NIB}}
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|还是|A1|A + 还是 + B ?|你 要 茶 <em>还是</em> 咖啡 ?|grammar point|ASGA8NIB}}
 
{{Rel char|是}}
 
{{Rel char|是}}
 
{{Similar|"Or" in statements}}
 
{{Similar|"Or" in statements}}

Latest revision as of 09:43, 14 March 2019

还是 (háishì) is used in Chinese to provide options in a question. This is equivalent to one of our uses of "or" in English.

Simplest Form

Structure

Option A + 还是 + Option B ?

When you're asked a question of this form, there are two ways you're expected to answer: either Option A or Option B. (Pick one, but not both.) It's not that no other answers are possible, it's that usually when you're asked a question this way, the person asking expects you to just choose one. For example, if asked if you'd like to drink coffee or tea, most people are going to choose one or the other, not ask for both. 还是 (háishì) is used to ask people to make that choice between the two.

Examples

  • 还是 háishì tā?Me or him?
  • 一 个 还是 两 个Yī gè háishì liǎng gè?One or two?
  • 辣 的 还是 不 辣 的Là de háishì bù là de?Spicy or non-spicy?
  • 冰 的 还是 热 的Bīng de háishì rè de?Cold or hot?
  • 上海 还是 北京The eternal China expat question! Choose wisely...Shànghǎi háishì Běijīng?Shanghai or Beijing?

Full Sentence Form

Structure

You can take the structure above, add a subject and a verb, and create all kinds of questions with the following structure:

Subj. + Verb + Option A + 还是 + Option B ?

Examples

  • 这 是 还是 Zhè shì shuǐ háishì jiǔ?Is this water or alcohol?
  • 他 是 美国 人 还是 英国 人Tā shì Měiguó rén háishì Yīngguó rén?Is he American or British?
  • 你 喜欢 还是 我 的 钱Nǐ xǐhuan háishì wǒ de qián?Do you like me or my money?
  • 你 要 喝 还是 咖啡Nǐ yào hē chá háishì kāfēi?Do you want to drink tea or coffee?
  • 你们 想 吃 中国 菜 还是 法国 菜Nǐmen xiǎng chī Zhōngguó cài háishì Fǎguó cài?Do you want to eat Chinese food or French food?

Please note that 还是 (háishì) is for offering options in a question. It should not be used for "or" in statements.

See also

Sources and Further Reading

Books

Websites