或者 (huòzhě): How to Say “Or” in Statements
或者 (huòzhě) is “or” for statements — laying out alternatives that are all fine: Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2 (我喝茶或者咖啡都行 = “tea or coffee, either's fine”). For “or” in a question, you need 还是 instead.
Why this trips learners up
Chinese has two words for “or”, and which one you use depends on whether you're asking or telling. For a statement — laying out alternatives that are all acceptable — you want 或者 (huòzhě): Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2. 我喝茶或者咖啡都行 = “tea or coffee, either's fine.” It links nouns (茶或者咖啡), verb phrases (做饭或者看电影), even whole clauses (你来或者我去).
The catch for English speakers: your single “or” splits in two. 或者 is for statements; 还是 (háishì) is for questions. “Do you want tea or coffee?” is a question → 你要茶还是咖啡？But “tea or coffee is fine” is a statement → 茶或者咖啡都行. Swap them and it sounds off. 或者 also loves a 都 (“both / either”) further along — 或者…都行 / 都可以 — to round off “…either way is fine.” (In formal writing you'll see it shortened to just 或.)
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
zǎoshang 早上 Time wǒ 我 Subject hē 喝 Verb niúnǎi 牛奶 Object huòzhě 或者 Pattern dòujiāng 豆浆 Object
In the morning I drink milk or soy milk.
hóng de 红的 Object huòzhě 或者 Pattern lán de 蓝的 Object wǒ 我 Subject dōu 都 Adverb xǐhuan 喜欢 Verb
The red one or the blue one — I like both.
wǒmen 我们 Subject kěyǐ 可以 Function word zuò 坐 Verb dìtiě 地铁 Object huòzhě 或者 Pattern dǎchē 打车 Verb qù 去 Verb
We can go by subway or by taxi.
nǐ 你 Subject yòng 用 Verb xiànjīn 现金 Object huòzhě 或者 Pattern shuākǎ 刷卡 Verb dōu 都 Adverb xíng 行 Adjective
You can pay with cash or by card, either's fine.
zhōumò 周末 Time wǒ 我 Subject yìbān 一般 Adverb kànshū 看书 Verb huòzhě 或者 Pattern huàhuà 画画 Verb
On weekends I usually read or draw.
nǐ 你 Subject jīntiān 今天 Time lái 来 Verb huòzhě 或者 Pattern míngtiān 明天 Time lái 来 Verb wǒ 我 Subject dōu 都 Adverb yǒukòng 有空 Verb
Whether you come today or tomorrow, I'm free either way.
bàomíng de shíhou 报名的时候 Time nǐ 你 Subject kěyǐ 可以 Function word yòng 用 Verb hùzhào 护照 Object huò 或 Pattern shēnfènzhèng 身份证 Object
When you register, you can use a passport or an ID card.
wǎnshang 晚上 Time wǒmen 我们 Subject kěyǐ 可以 Function word chūqù 出去 Verb chī 吃 Verb huòzhě 或者 Pattern zàijiā 在家 Place zuòfàn 做饭 Verb nǐ 你 Subject juédìng 决定 Verb
Tonight we can eat out or cook at home — you decide.
Common mistakes
Why it happens: 或者 is for statements, 还是 for questions — don't swap them. “I read or watch films at the weekend, either's fine” is a statement: 看书或者看电影都可以, not 看书还是看电影. Save 还是 for an actual question.
Why it happens: Flip side: a real either/or question needs 还是, not 或者. “Do you want tea or coffee?” is 你想喝茶还是咖啡？— 你想喝茶或者咖啡？lands like an unfinished statement, not a question.
Why it happens: 或者 offers a choice — one or the other — so it doesn't fit when you mean both. “I bought apples and bananas” (both) is 我买了苹果和香蕉. Use 和 for “and / both”; keep 或者 for genuine alternatives.
Compare & contrast
| 或者 — “or” in a statement (telling) | 还是 — “or” in a question (asking) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 牛奶或者豆浆都行。niúnǎi huòzhě dòujiāng dōu xíng. | 你要牛奶还是豆浆？nǐ yào niúnǎi háishì dòujiāng? | 牛奶或者豆浆都行 = “milk or soy milk, either's fine” — a statement. 你要牛奶还是豆浆？ = “do you want milk or soy milk?” — a question. |
| 我们坐地铁或者打车都可以。wǒmen zuò dìtiě huòzhě dǎchē dōu kěyǐ. | 我们坐地铁还是打车？wǒmen zuò dìtiě háishì dǎchē? | 我们坐地铁或者打车都可以 = “we can take the subway or a taxi” — telling. 我们坐地铁还是打车？ = “shall we take the subway or a taxi?” — asking. |
Try it yourself
Say “Rice or noodles, either's fine” (或者…都行) — tap the words into order.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
或者 (huòzhě): How to Say “Or” in Statements grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.