或者
or (in statements)
Structure
A 或者／或 B · question: A 还是 B？
What it means
或者 means “or” in a statement: one choice or the other, when you are not asking anyone to pick.
How it is built
A + 或者 + B: 周末我在家看书或者去公园 (At the weekend I read at home or go to the park). The shorter 或 works too: 星期六或星期天.
When to use it
或 is shorter and more written. When you ask someone to pick one, “or” is 还是 (h1-13): 你喝茶还是喝咖啡？
Watch out
Don’t use 或者 in a choice question. ✗ 你去或者不去？ ✓ 你去还是不去？
Examples
周末我在家看书或者去公园。
At the weekend I read at home or go to the park.
爬山或者去海边，我都行。
Hiking or the seaside, either is fine with me.
星期六或星期天，你来我家吧。
Come over to mine on Saturday or Sunday.
你喝茶还是喝咖啡？
Would you like tea or coffee? (a question: 还是)
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 18: 周末去哪儿 (Weekend choices)
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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