HSK 3 grammar · new HSK syllabus
或者: or (in statements)
In statements, “or” is 或者: 坐地铁或者打车都可以. In questions, use 还是.
Structure
- A + 或者 + B
- 或者 A，或者 B
How it works
或者 means “or” in statements and suggestions: 你可以坐地铁或者打车.
或者 A，或者 B means “either A or B”.
In a question that asks someone to choose, use 还是 instead: 你喝茶还是咖啡？
Examples
-
你可以坐地铁或者打车去。
Nǐ kěyǐ zuò dìtiě huòzhě dǎchē qù.
You can take the subway or a taxi.
-
周末我常常看书或者看电影。
Zhōumò wǒ chángcháng kàn shū huòzhě kàn diànyǐng.
At weekends I usually read or watch films.
-
你今天或者明天来都行。
Nǐ jīntiān huòzhě míngtiān lái dōu xíng.
You can come today or tomorrow.
-
或者你去，或者我去，都可以。
Huòzhě nǐ qù, huòzhě wǒ qù, dōu kěyǐ.
Either you go or I go; either is fine.
-
我们点米饭或者面条吧。
Wǒmen diǎn mǐfàn huòzhě miàn tiáo ba.
Let’s order rice or noodles.
Words in these examples (24)
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 可以 | kěyǐ | can; may | HSK 1 |
| 坐 | zuò | to sit; to take (bus, plane) | HSK 1 |
| 地铁 | dìtiě | subway; metro | HSK 2 |
| 或者 | huòzhě | or | HSK 3 |
| 打车 | dǎchē | to take a taxi | HSK 2 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 周末 | zhōumò | weekend | HSK 3 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 常常 | chángcháng | often | HSK 3 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 |
| 电影 | diànyǐng | film; movie | HSK 1 |
| 今天 | jīntiān | today | HSK 1 |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | HSK 1 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 都 | dōu | all; both | HSK 1 |
| 行 | xíng | OK; all right | HSK 3 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 点 | diǎn | o'clock; (measure word) a little | HSK 1 |
| 米饭 | mǐfàn | cooked rice | HSK 1 |
| 面 | miàn | (ending for place words, as in 前面, 外面) | HSK 2 |
| 条 | tiáo | (measure word for long thin things: roads, rivers, trousers) | HSK 2 |
| 吧 | ba | (particle for suggestions: "let's…", "…, OK?") | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗你喝茶或者咖啡？
✓你喝茶还是咖啡？
A choice question uses 还是.
-
✗我想去北京还是上海。
✓我想去北京或者上海。
In a statement, use 或者.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我们可以星期六 星期天去。
2. 你想去北京 上海？
3. 下课以后我去图书馆 回家。