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Expressing "either... or..." with 要么 ("yao4me")

要么 yàome

Grammar
HSK 3

Structure

要么 + Option A ，要么 + Option B

Translations

  • either
  • or

Definition

表示在两个或多个选项中进行选择，相当于“要么…要么…”，用于列举不同的可能性或方案。

Used to present two or more alternatives, equivalent to 'either...or...' in English, often used to list different possibilities or options.

Usage

将“要么”放在每个选项之前，构成“要么A，要么B”的结构。可以用于两个或更多选项，强调非此即彼的选择。通常用于建议、命令或假设情况。

Place '要么' before each option to form '要么A，要么B' structure. Can be used for two or more options, emphasizing an either-or choice. Commonly used in suggestions, commands, or hypothetical situations.

Examples

  • 1 我们要么去公园，要么去电影院。 (We either go to the park or the cinema.)
  • 2 要么你道歉，要么我们分手。 (Either you apologize, or we break up.)
  • 3 要么现在做，要么永远不做。 (Either do it now, or never do it.)
  • 4 要么吃中餐，要么吃西餐，你选一个。 (Either Chinese food or Western food, you choose one.)
  • 5 要么他赢，要么我赢，没有平局。 (Either he wins or I win, there's no tie.)

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