还是
háishi
Or; still
How to ask “or” questions in Chinese with 还是 (háishi)
A + 还是 (háishi) + B?
还是 (hái shì) — alternative question
HSK 3Conjunctions
A + 还是 (háishi) + B?
HSK 3Conjunctions还是 (hái shì) — alternative question
Rule structure
还是 (háishi) connects alternatives in a question. It is used when the listener is asked to choose between two or more options rather than simply answer yes or no.
Rule structure
还是 (háishi) connects alternatives in a question. It is used when the listener is asked to choose between two or more options rather than simply answer yes or no.
Examples
你喝茶还是喝咖啡？
Nǐ hē chá háishì hē kāfēi?
Will you have tea or coffee?
他想去北京还是上海？
Tā xiǎng qù Běijīng háishì Shànghǎi?
Does he want to go to Beijing or Shanghai?
你要苹果还是香蕉？
Nǐ yào píngguǒ háishì xiāngjiāo?
Do you want an apple or a banana?
Examples
你喝茶还是喝咖啡？
Nǐ hē chá háishì hē kāfēi?
Will you have tea or coffee?
他想去北京还是上海？
Tā xiǎng qù Běijīng háishì Shànghǎi?
Does he want to go to Beijing or Shanghai?
你要苹果还是香蕉？
Nǐ yào píngguǒ háishì xiāngjiāo?
Do you want an apple or a banana?
Practice
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Characters
Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “alternative question” in Chinese with 还是?
Use the structure: A + 还是 (háishi) + B?. For example: 你喝茶还是喝咖啡？ — “Will you have tea or coffee?”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
你喝茶还是喝咖啡？ — “Will you have tea or coffee?”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.
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More HSK 3 grammar rules
或者 — or in statements
⋯⋯或者 (huòzhě)⋯⋯
那么 — then…
那么 (nàme)⋯⋯
跟 — with, together with
跟 (gēn)⋯⋯ + Verb
一边 — doing two things at once
一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 1, 一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 2
如果…就 — if… then…
如果 (rúguǒ)……，就 (jiù)……
万 — big numbers
Number + 万 (wàn) / 亿 (yì)
地 — turning adjectives into adverbs
Adj. + 地 (de) + Verb
AA — reduplicating adjectives
AA / AABB