或是……或是……；或A或B
either … or …; some … some … (formal)
Structure
或是 A ， 或是 B ； 或 A 或 B
What it means
Lists possibilities or cases in turn: “either A or B”, or “some A, some B”. 或是 is the written form of 或者.
How it is built
或是 + A ， 或是 + B: 周末他或是去博物馆，或是在家练字 (at weekends he either goes to a museum or practises calligraphy). Compact form with one-syllable words: 或坐或站.
When to use it
Written and formal. 或A或B is compact and literary: 或坐或站, 或多或少, 或早或晚. In everyday speech 或者…或者… is the usual choice.
Watch out
In a question asking the listener to choose, use 还是. ✗ 你先看哪幅，《清明上河图》或是《千里江山图》？ ✓ 你先看哪幅，《清明上河图》还是《千里江山图》？
Examples
画上的空白，或是水，或是天，或是云雾，留给看画的人自己去想。
A blank may be water, or sky, or mist, left for the viewer to imagine.
周末他或是去博物馆，或是在家练字，很少出门逛街。
At weekends he either goes to a museum or practises calligraphy at home; he seldom goes out shopping.
画中的人或坐或站，或说或笑，没有一个是闲着的。
The people in the painting sit or stand, chat or laugh; not one of them is idle.
Learn this in Lesson 93 · HSK 6–7: 两幅北宋长卷 (Two Northern Song scrolls)
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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