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或者

huò zhě
HSK 2.0 Level 3 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Conjunction Very common

Definitions

  1. 1. or
  2. 2. possibly; maybe; perhaps

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Word relationships

Related words

2 items
还是
hái shi

still (as before)

或者 is used in declarative sentences, 还是 in questions
也许
yě xǔ

perhaps

或者 can also mean 'perhaps', similar to 也许

Usage notes

Common mistakes

或者 is for statements, 还是 for questions: 你喝茶还是咖啡？not 或者

Grammar

Guides that feature 或者

Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.

5 guides
HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 5 min
或A或B for “Some A, Some B” and “More or Less”

Use 或坐或站 to say different people or things are in different states, and 或多或少 for “more or less.”

Reading: huò zhě Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 6 min
或……，或…… for “Either … Or …” Between Clauses

List two or more possible actions with 或……，或……, the written way to say “either … or …” or “some … , others …”.

Reading: huò zhě Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 5+ 5 min
或是...，或是... for “Either … Or …”

或是……，或是…… lists two or more possibilities in a statement, like 或者 but a little more formal.

Reading: huò zhě Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min
或者...，或者... for “Either … Or …”

Start each choice with 或者 to list two or more options in a statement: 周末我或者在家看书，或者去公园跑步.

Reading: huò zhě Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 2+ HSK 3.0 Level 2+ 6 min
或者 vs 还是

Choose the right “or” for statements, lists, and choice questions.

Reading: huò zhě Open guide

Example Sentences

1 shown
你可以喝茶 或者 咖啡。
You can drink tea or coffee.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 或者

或
huò

maybe

者
zhě

(after a verb or adjective) one who (is) ...