In today’s lesson, you will learn how to say “OR”s in Mandarin Chinese.
或者 (huòzhě) is mostly for statements.
还是 (háishì) is for choosing between alternatives with either–or questions.
A: 妈妈，你要茶还是咖啡 ？
Mā ma, nǐ yào chá hái shì kā fēi?
Mum, do you want tea or coffee?
B: 我要茶。
Wǒ yào chá.
I want tea.
A: 你要这本杂志还是那本杂志？
Nǐ yào zhè běn zá zhì hái shì nà běn zá zhì?
Do you want this magazine or that magazine?
B: 我要这本杂志。
Wǒ yào zhè běn zá zhì.
I want this magazine.
A: 你要喝什么？
Nǐ yào hē shén me?
What do you want to drink?
B: 牛奶或者咖啡。
Niú nǎi huò zhě kā fēi.
Milk or coffee.
