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HSK 2Conjunctions

还是/或者(háishì / huòzhě)

Or (Question / Statement)

Structure Pattern

A+还是 / 或者+B

Explanation

还是 (háishì) is used in questions when offering choices ("A or B?"). 或者 (huòzhě) is used in statements meaning "or" without asking. This distinction is important — mixing them up is a common mistake.

Example Sentences

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1
你喝咖啡还是茶？

Nǐ hē kāfēi háishì chá?

Do you want coffee or tea?

2
坐公交或者地铁都可以。

Zuò gōngjiāo huòzhě dìtiě dōu kěyǐ.

Taking the bus or subway is both fine.

3
你是中国人还是日本人？

Nǐ shì Zhōngguó rén háishì Rìběn rén?

Are you Chinese or Japanese?

4
周末我或者看书，或者看电影。

Zhōumò wǒ huòzhě kàn shū, huòzhě kàn diànyǐng.

On weekends I either read or watch movies.

Common Mistakes

❌
❌

Common Mistake

你喝咖啡或者茶？

✅
✅

Correct Usage

你喝咖啡还是茶？

info

Use 还是 in questions, 或者 in statements.

conjunctionchoicequestion

Related Grammar Points

吗HSK 1

Yes/No Question Particle

ma

The simplest way to form a yes/no question in Chinese is to add 吗 (ma) to the end of a statement. The word order stays exactly the same — you just add 吗 at the end. This is much simpler than English, which requires changing word order ("You are" → "Are you?").

Questions4 examples

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