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6.4: Lesson 5 Grammar - Expressing "or" in statements

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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 "or" in questions, 或者 (huòzhě) is used for "or" in statements.

         Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2

    Examples 

    • 我喝咖啡或者茶，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.

    [adapted from AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki, Creative Commons License BY-NC-SA 3.0]

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    Any Questions? 

    If you have any questions about this grammar point, please ask in the class forums!

    This page titled 6.4: Lesson 5 Grammar - Expressing "or" in statements is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Carl Polley (裴凯).