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HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min read

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.

Pattern

（subject）或者 + option A，或者 + option B

Put 或者 in front of each option to say “either this or that”; it is for statements, not questions.

周末我或者在家看书，或者去公园跑步。

When to use 或者...，或者... for “Either … Or …”

或者…，或者… lists two (or more) possibilities in a statement, like “either … or ….” Put 或者 in front of each option, and keep the options parallel, usually two verb phrases: 周末我或者在家看书，或者去公园跑步 “At weekends I either read at home or go running in the park.” The subject can come before the first 或者 (我或者…，或者…) or each clause can have its own subject (或者你去，或者我去). A final comment with 都 often says that any of the options is fine: 或者今天，或者明天，我都有时间.

你或者今天来，或者明天来，都可以。

You can come either today or tomorrow; either is fine.

或者坐地铁，或者坐公共汽车，都能到。

You can get there either by subway or by bus.

这件事或者你去，或者我去，你选吧。

Either you go or I go for this; you choose.

午饭我们或者吃面条，或者吃饺子。

For lunch we’ll have either noodles or dumplings.

Common traps

  • Use 或者…，或者… in statements; in a choice question use 还是: 你去还是我去？
  • Keep the two options parallel: 或者看书，或者跑步, both verb phrases.
  • Don’t use 还是 to list options in a plain statement: 我或者看书，或者跑步, not 我还是看书，还是跑步.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

坐地铁，或者坐公共汽车，都能到

You can get there either by subway or by bus
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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