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

m (Text replacement - ")</span><span class="pinyin">" to "</span><span class="pinyin">")
 
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
Option A + 还是 + Option B ?
 
Option A + 还是 + Option B ?
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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* <strong>我</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>他</strong> ? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Wǒ</strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>tā?</strong></span><span class="trans">Me or him?</span>
 
* <strong>我</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>他</strong> ? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Wǒ</strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>tā?</strong></span><span class="trans">Me or him?</span>
* <strong>一 个</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>两 个</strong> ? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Yīgè</strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>liǎng gè</strong>?</span><span class="trans">One or two?</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>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>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>冰 的</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>热 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>冰 的</strong> <em>还是</em> <strong>热 的</strong>?<span class="pinyin"><strong>Bīng de</strong> <em>háishì</em> <strong>rè de</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Cold or hot?</span>
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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>
 
</div>
  
Please note that 还是 (háishì) is for offering options in a '''question'''.  It should not be used for [["Or" in statements|"or" in statements]].
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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]
+
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|23}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (p. 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]
+
{{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]
+
{{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 ===
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{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK3}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|还是|A1|A + 还是 + B ?|你 要 喝 茶 <em>还是</em> 咖啡 ?|grammar point|ASGA8NIB}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|还是|A1|A + 还是 + B ?|你 要 喝 茶 <em>还是</em> 咖啡 ?|grammar point|ASGA8NIB}}
 
{{Rel char|是}}
 
{{Rel char|是}}

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