或者

huòzhě

conjunction

Huòzhě 或者 ‘or’ is a disjunctive conjunction, which is used in statements to present two or more alternatives, both of which are possible.

Structure

Basic form

Huòzhě 或者 is used in declarative sentences to present two or more options. It can connect words that serve similar functions in a sentence, such as subjects or objects. It can also link larger linguistic units, such as verbal phrases and entire clauses.

When the options connected by the conjunction huòzhě 或者are verb phrases that share the verb shì 是 ‘to be’ followed by different objects, the verb shì 是 in the subsequent options is usually omitted.

When the options connected by the conjunction huòzhě 或者 are verb phrases that share the same verb followed by different objects, the verb in the subsequent options can be omitted.

An exception is made for phrases with monosyllabic verbs or objects. In such phrases, the verb cannot be omitted in the subsequent options.

Note that if a sentence with the conjunction huòzhě 或者 is an answer to a question about the action performed, the verb also cannot be omitted.

Negation

In negative sentences, bù 不 ‘not’ or méi 没/沒 ‘not’ are placed before the verb of the first option.

Sometimes, speakers might use constructions with yě 也 ‘also’ or hé 和 ‘and’ instead of huòzhě 或者 to form negative sentences. When yě 也 is used, bù 不 or méi 没/沒 and the verb are repeated.

Question

In alternative questions, huòzhě 或者 is replaced by háishi 还是/還是, and the question particle ma 吗/嗎 must not be placed at the end of the sentence. In this type of question the speaker asks a question presenting two or more possible options, and he expects the listener to choose only one of them as his answer.

Sometimes, huòzhě 或者 can appear in questions with the question particle ma 吗/嗎 placed at the end of the sentence. However, the meaning of such questions is slightly different from those using háishi 还是/還是. In general, when the speaker uses an alternative question with háishi 还是/還是, he asks the listener to choose one specific option from the two or more provided. In contrast, when the speaker uses a question with the question particle ma 吗/嗎 and huòzhě 或者, he casually presents two or more options and asks whether either of them might be appealing to the listener.

Also check Comparison: conjunctions huòzhě 或者 and háishi 还是 ‘or’

Functions

1. Huòzhě 或者 giving options

Huòzhě 或者 is used in statements to present two or more alternatives, both of which are possible.