还是 (or?)
A or B? (asking someone to choose)
Structure
A 还是 B ？
What it means
还是 joins two choices in a question, “A or B?”, and asks the listener to pick one.
How it is built
A + 还是 + B ？: 你要米饭还是面条儿？ (Would you like rice or noodles?).
When to use it
Answer with just your choice: 坐火车. When the choices are actions, it is clearest to say the verb on both sides: 喝茶还是喝水？
Watch out
✗ 你坐飞机还是坐火车吗？ ✓ 你坐飞机还是坐火车？ 还是 already makes it a question, so don’t add 吗.
Examples
你今天去还是明天去？
Are you going today or tomorrow?
你要米饭还是面条儿？
Would you like rice or noodles?
这是你的还是王明的？
Is this yours or Wang Ming’s?
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 13: 坐火车去上海 (Train or plane?)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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