Expressing “or” with 還是/还是 háishì

Grammar Point:
還是还是 háishì is a Chinese phrase that can have a few different meanings. In this article, we are going to talk about its usage in questions, where it is typically translated to “or” in English.

Structure

Option 1 + 還是/还是 + Option 2

你nǐ愛ài他tā還是háishì我wǒ？ 你nǐ爱ài他tā还是háishì我wǒ？
Who do you love, him or me?

你nǐ要yào喝hē咖啡kāfēi還是háishì茶chá？ 你nǐ要yào喝hē咖啡kāfēi还是háishì茶chá？
Do you want coffee or tea?

你nǐ要yào什麼時候shénmeshíhòu去qù超市chāoshì， 明天míngtiān下午xiàwǔ還是háishì今天jīntiān晚上wǎnshàng？ 你nǐ要yào什么时候shénmeshíhou去qù超市chāoshì， 明天míngtiān下午xiàwǔ还是háishì今天jīntiān晚上wǎnshang？
When do you want to go to the supermarket, tomorrow afternoon or tonight?

外帶wàidài還是háishì內用nèiyòng？ 外带wàidài还是háishì内用nèiyòng？
Takeaway or eat in? (A common phrase you will hear in restaurants.)

這裡zhèlǐ還是háishì帶走dàizǒu？ 这里zhèlǐ还是háishì带走dàizǒu？
Here or to go? (A common phrase you will hear in restaurants.)

你nǐ要yào吃藥chīyào還是háishì打針dǎzhēn？ 你nǐ要yào吃药chīyào还是háishì打针dǎzhēn？
Do you want medication or an injection? (A common phrase you will hear in hospital.)

你nǐ覺得juéde這個zhège網站wǎngzhàn很hěn好hǎo還是háishì非常fēicháng好hǎo？ 你nǐ觉得juéde这个zhège网站wǎngzhàn很hěn好hǎo还是háishì非常fēicháng好hǎo？
Do you think this website is good or very good?

你nǐ要yào麵包miànbāo還是háishì愛情àiqíng？ 你nǐ要yào面包miànbāo还是háishì爱情àiqíng？
Do you want bread or love?

FYI
你要麵包還是愛情你要面包还是爱情 nǐ yào miànbāo háishì àiqíng is a Chinese idiom that translates to “Do you want bread or love?” in English. It is often used to describe a choice between material comfort and emotional fulfillment.
In modern times, the phrase has taken on a more light-hearted meaning and is often used in a playful manner to ask someone what they prioritize more: material goods or emotional fulfillment. For example, if someone is trying to decide between buying a new car or going on a romantic trip with their partner, their friend might jokingly ask them, “Do you want bread or love?”

If you want to use ‘or’ in declarative sentences, you need to use 或者 huòzhě or 或是 huòshì. (HSK 2)

• Had better with 還是还是 háishì (HSK 2)