HSK 6
Either...Or with 要么...要么... in Chinese
要么...要么... presents two or more alternatives as a decision set, often with a firm either-or tone. Each 要么 introduces one option. A shared subject usually precedes the first marker when it scopes over both options, but it may be repeated within parallel or emphatic alternatives. Context determines whether the choices are exhaustive or mutually exclusive.
STRUCTURE
要么 + Option A, 要么 + Option B
When to use 要么…要么 — and when not
Use it when
- To present a firm choice between alternatives: 你要么今天交材料，要么明天早上交。
- With a shared subject before the pattern: 我们要么坐公交车，要么打车。
- With different subjects or more than two options: 要么他来，要么我去 / 要么坐火车，要么坐飞机，要么自己开车。
Don't use it when
- For a neutral choice question, where 还是 is commonly more suitable: 你喝茶还是咖啡？
- Do not assume the frame always gives exactly two exhaustive, logically exclusive choices; context determines the scope of the options.
- Do not stack 要么 with another choice marker in the same slot or move it behind the option it introduces.
Right vs. wrong
你要么或者坐公交车，要么打车。
你要么坐公交车，要么打车。
要么 and 或者 stacked before one option
要么 already introduces the first option, so adding 或者 in the same marker slot creates a malformed stack. Let each 要么 directly introduce one alternative.
要么你去，我去要么。
要么你去，要么我去。
The second 要么 placed after its option
When the alternatives have different subjects, each 要么 introduces its own clause. Put the second marker before 我去, not after the completed option.
Examples
你要么跟他一组，要么自己一组。
Nǐ yàome gēn tā yì zǔ, yàome zìjǐ yì zǔ.
Either join his group or form a group by yourself.
面对困难，我们要么被它吓倒，要么想办法解决。
Miànduì kùnnan, wǒmen yàome bèi tā xiàdǎo, yàome xiǎng bànfǎ jiějué.
Faced with a difficulty, we either let it frighten us or find a way to solve it.
教室里的同学要么在写作业，要么在小声讨论。
Jiàoshì lǐ de tóngxué yàome zài xiě zuòyè, yàome zài xiǎoshēng tǎolùn.
The students in the classroom are either doing homework or discussing quietly.
要么他来，要么我去，我们总得见一面。
Yàome tā lái, yàome wǒ qù, wǒmen zǒng děi jiàn yí miàn.
Either he comes or I go; one way or another, we need to meet.
你要么今天交材料，要么明天早上交。
Nǐ yàome jīntiān jiāo cáiliào, yàome míngtiān zǎoshang jiāo.
Submit the material either today or tomorrow morning.
这次旅行我们要么坐火车，要么坐飞机，要么自己开车。
Zhè cì lǚxíng wǒmen yàome zuò huǒchē, yàome zuò fēijī, yàome zìjǐ kāichē.
For this trip, we can take a train, fly, or drive ourselves.
Common mistakes
你要么或者坐公交车，要么打车。
Nǐ yàome huòzhě zuò gōngjiāochē, yàome dǎchē.
Do not stack 要么 and 或者 before one option: 你要么坐公交车，要么打车。
要么你去，我去要么。
Yàome nǐ qù, wǒ qù yàome.
The second 要么 must introduce its option: 要么你去，要么我去。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 要么…要么 sentence and check that grammar point first.
Either...Or with 要么...要么... FAQ
Does 要么...要么... always give exactly two choices?
No. Two is the most common shape, but the pattern can introduce three or more alternatives. Context also determines whether the listed options are exhaustive or mutually exclusive.
Where does the subject go with 要么...要么...?
A shared subject that scopes over both options usually comes before the first 要么: 我们要么坐公交车，要么打车. It may also be repeated inside parallel or emphatic alternatives. With different subjects, each marker introduces its clause: 要么他来，要么我去.
How is 要么 different from 或者 and 还是?
要么...要么... often presents a firmer set of alternatives. 或者 commonly lists neutral possibilities, while 还是 commonly connects options in a choice question; these are usage tendencies, not universal bans.