Offering choices with "haishi"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
还是 (háishì) is used in Chinese to provide options in a question. This is equivalent to one use of "or" in English.
Structure
Option A + 还是 + Option B
You can then put this into all kinds of questions with the following structure:
Subject + Verb + Option A + 还是 + Option B
Examples
| Subject | Verb | Option A | 还是 | Option B | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 你 | 是 | 美国人 | 还是 | 英国人 | ？ |
| 你 | 喜欢 | 啤酒 | 还是 | 葡萄酒 | ？ |
| 他 | 是 | 医生 | 还是 | 老师 | ？ |
| 你 | 想吃 | 中国菜 | 还是 | 法国菜 | ？ |
| 那 | 是 | 很大的猫 | 还是 | 很小的老虎 | ？ |
Please note that 还是 is for offering options in a question. It should not be used for "or" in statements (see below).
See also
- "Or" in statements
- "Had better" with "haishi" (advanced article)
- Providing two options with double "huozhe" (advanced article)
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 76-7, 257-8) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 179) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 206-7, 251) →buy
Websites
- East Asia Student: The difference between 还是 and 或者
