Grammar · Chapter 8
还是 and 或者: “or”
A 还是 B？ · A 或者 B
English has one “or”; Chinese has two. 还是 is for questions: “tea or coffee?”. 或者 is for statements: “tea or coffee, either is fine”. 你喝茶或者咖啡？ is wrong as a question.
Examples
- 你坐火车还是坐飞机？ Nǐ zuò huǒchē háishi zuò fēijī? Will you take the train or fly?
- 你去还是我去？ Nǐ qù háishi wǒ qù? Will you go, or shall I?
- 你或者我去都可以。 Nǐ huòzhě wǒ qù dōu kěyǐ. Either you or I can go.