1. Home
  2. Grammar Points
  3. Comparing 还是 ("hai2shi4") and 或者 ("huo3zhe")

Comparing 还是 ("hai2shi4") and 或者 ("huo3zhe")

还是 háishì

Grammar
HSK 3

Structure

Option A + 还是 + Option B ? Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2

Translations

  • or

Definition

还是和或者都是表示选择的连词。还是用于疑问句或选择疑问句，或者用于陈述句中的选择。

Both 还是 (hai2shi4) and 或者 (huo3zhe) are conjunctions expressing choices. 还是 is used in questions or alternative questions, while 或者 is used in declarative sentences for options.

Usage

还是用于疑问句中，特别是选择疑问句，表示询问对方选择哪一个。或者用于陈述句中，列举两个或多个可能，表示其中之一。例如：你想喝茶还是咖啡？我们可以去公园或者图书馆。

还是 is used in interrogative sentences, especially alternative questions, to ask which option the listener chooses. 或者 is used in declarative sentences to list two or more possibilities, indicating one of them. E.g., Do you want tea or coffee? We can go to the park or the library.

Examples

  • 1 你明天去北京还是上海？(Are you going to Beijing or Shanghai tomorrow?)
  • 2 周末我们可以看电影或者逛街。 (We can watch a movie or go shopping on the weekend.)
  • 3 你想吃米饭还是面条？(Do you want to eat rice or noodles?)
  • 4 你可以坐地铁或者打车去机场。 (You can take the subway or a taxi to the airport.)
  • 5 他是老师还是学生？(Is he a teacher or a student?)

Put it into practice

Exam-style HSK drills with instant scoring and explanations.

Find my HSK level

Free · about 3 minutes · no account needed