HSK 2
还是 vs 或者: Two Ways to Say Or in Chinese
还是 and 或者 both mean "or", but 还是 is for questions and 或者 for statements. 你喝茶还是咖啡? (tea or coffee?) uses 还是 because it's a choice question. 喝茶或者咖啡都行 (tea or coffee is fine) uses 或者 because it's a statement. Swapping them is a classic error.
STRUCTURE
还是 in questions, 或者 in statements
When to use 还是/或者 — and when not
Use it when
- 还是 in a choice question: 你去还是不去?
- 或者 in a statement listing options: 周末我看书或者看电影。
- 还是 when asking for a recommendation: 我们走路还是坐车?
Don't use it when
- 或者 in a choice question — questions use 还是: 你喝茶还是咖啡?, not 或者。
- 还是 in a plain statement of options — use 或者: 你可以打电话或者发邮件。
- Forgetting 还是 has other meanings — it also means "still" (他还是没来) and "had better".
Right vs. wrong
你喝茶或者咖啡?
你喝茶还是咖啡?
或者 used in a choice question
A question offering a choice uses 还是. 或者 is for statements, so it can't form the "A or B?" question.
周末我或者看书看电影。
周末我看书或者看电影。
或者 placed before the first option instead of between options
或者 links two complete alternatives and sits between them. Here the two options are 看书 and 看电影, so say 看书或者看电影。
Examples
你喝茶还是咖啡?
Nǐ hē chá háishì kāfēi?
Tea or coffee?
你去还是不去?
Nǐ qù háishì bú qù?
Are you going or not?
周末我看书或者看电影。
Zhōumò wǒ kàn shū huòzhě kàn diànyǐng.
On weekends I read or watch movies.
你可以打电话或者发邮件。
Nǐ kěyǐ dǎ diànhuà huòzhě fā yóujiàn.
You can call or email.
我们走路还是坐车?
Wǒmen zǒulù háishì zuòchē?
Shall we walk or take the bus?
Common mistakes
你喝茶或者咖啡?
Nǐ hē chá huòzhě kāfēi?
Choice questions use 还是: 你喝茶还是咖啡?
周末我或者看书看电影。
Zhōumò wǒ huòzhě kàn shū kàn diànyǐng.
或者 links the two complete options: 周末我看书或者看电影。
你要还是大的小的?
Nǐ yào háishì dà de xiǎo de?
还是 belongs between the two choices: 你要大的还是小的?
Think you've got it?
Write your own 还是/或者 sentence and check that grammar point first.
还是 vs 或者: Two Ways to Say Or FAQ
What is the difference between 还是 and 或者?
还是 = "or" in questions (茶还是咖啡?). 或者 = "or" in statements (茶或者咖啡都行). If it's a question offering a choice, use 还是.
Can I use 或者 in a question?
Not for offering a choice — that's 还是. 或者 appears in a question only when you're not asking the listener to pick between the options. For "A or B?", stick to 还是.
Does 还是 have other meanings?
Yes — it also means "still" (他还是没来 — he still hasn't come) and "had better" (你还是早点走吧). Those are separate from the "or" use.