Expressing “either… or…” in Chinese

Grammar Point:
The structure 不是 búshì… 就是 jiùshì… in English can be translated as “either… or…” or “if it’s not…, then it’s…” It emphasizes the limited options available, indicating that something is either one thing or another, without any other alternatives.

Structure

不是 búshì + option 1 + 就是 jiùshì + option 2

我wǒ家jiā附近fùjìn的de餐廳cāntīng不是búshì中式zhōngshì， 就是jiùshì日式rìshì我wǒ家jiā附近fùjìn的de餐厅cāntīng不是búshì中式zhōngshì， 就是jiùshì日式rìshì
The restaurants near my home are either Chinese or Japanese.

我wǒ朋友圈péngyǒuquān裡lǐ的de人rén不是búshì在zài旅行lǚxíng， 就是jiùshì在zài照顧zhàogù孩子háizi我wǒ朋友圈péngyouquān里lǐ的de人rén不是búshì在zài旅行lǚxíng， 就是jiùshì在zài照顾zhàogù孩子háizi
People in my social circle are either traveling or taking care of children.

台灣人Táiwānrén的de早餐zǎocān通常tōngcháng不是búshì蛋餅dànbǐng， 就是jiùshì飯糰fàntuán台湾人Táiwānrén的de早餐zǎocān通常tōngcháng不是búshì蛋饼dànbǐng， 就是jiùshì饭团fàntuán
For breakfast in Taiwan, it’s usually either egg pancakes or rice balls.

學習xuéxí就jiù像xiàng逆水nìshuǐ行舟xíngzhōu， 不是búshì前進qiánjìn就是jiùshì後退hòutuì学习xuéxí就jiù像xiàng逆水nìshuǐ行舟xíngzhōu， 不是búshì前进qiánjìn就是jiùshì后退hòutuì
For breakfast in Taiwan, it’s usually either egg pancakes or rice balls.

他tā週末zhōumò不是búshì宅zhái在家zàijiā就是jiùshì在zài加班jiābān他tā周末zhōumò不是búshì宅zhái在家zàijiā就是jiùshì在zài加班jiābān
During weekends, he’s either staying at home or working overtime.

你nǐ怎麼zěnme每次měicì出國chūguó不是búshì去qù日本rìběn就是jiùshì去qù韓國hánguó你nǐ怎么zěnme每次měicì出国chūguó不是búshì去qù日本rìběn就是jiùshì去qù韩国hánguó
Why is it that every time you go abroad, it’s either to Japan or Korea?

懷孕huáiyùn的de人rén不是búshì想xiǎng吃chī辣的làde就是jiùshì想xiǎng吃chī酸的suānde怀孕huáiyùn的de人rén不是búshì想xiǎng吃chī辣的làde就是jiùshì想xiǎng吃chī酸的suānde
Pregnant women either crave spicy food or sour food.

FYI
In some parts of China, there’s a charming belief that a pregnant woman’s cravings might predict the baby’s gender. If she’s craving spicy foods, it’s thought she might be carrying a boy. But if she’s yearning for sour treats, the prediction is for a girl! However, it’s all in good fun and not scientifically proven. Cravings during pregnancy are more about personal preferences than predicting the baby’s gender. The real surprise comes when the baby arrives!

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Mom is either doing housework or cooking.

媽媽māma不是búshì在zài做zuò家事jiāshì就是jiùshì在zài煮飯zhǔfàn妈妈māma不是búshì在zài做zuò家事jiāshì就是jiùshì在zài煮饭zhǔfàn

✔️ Today, it’s either you resigning or me leaving.

今天jīntiān不是búshì你nǐ辭職cízhí就是jiùshì我wǒ離開líkāi今天jīntiān不是búshì你nǐ辞职cízhí就是jiùshì我wǒ离开líkāi

✔️ He’s either drunk or gone crazy, otherwise why would he say such things?

他tā不是búshì醉了zuìle就是jiùshì瘋了fēngle， 不然bùrán怎麼zěnme會huì說shuō這zhè種zhǒng話huà他tā不是búshì醉了zuìle就是jiùshì疯了fēngle， 不然bùrán怎么zěnme会huì说shuō这zhè种zhǒng话huà