Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use {还是|háishi} to ask 'or' questions when you want someone to choose between two or more options.
- Use {还是|háishi} only in questions, never in statements.
- Place {还是|háishi} between the two options you are offering.
- Do not use {吗|ma} at the end of a {还是|háishi} question.
Overview
3. Choice Question Structure
| Part 1 | Particle | Part 2 | Punctuation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
你
|
还是
|
我
|
?
|
|
喝咖啡
|
还是
|
喝茶
|
?
|
|
去
|
还是
|
不去
|
?
|
|
红色
|
还是
|
蓝色
|
?
|
|
现在
|
还是
|
明天
|
?
|
|
老师
|
还是
|
学生
|
?
|
Common Shortened Forms
| Full Form | Shortened Form |
|---|---|
|
你想喝咖啡还是想喝茶？
|
你想喝咖啡还是茶？
|
|
你明天去还是明天不去？
|
你明天去还是不去？
|
Meanings
The particle {还是|háishi} is used to connect two or more alternatives in a question, forcing the listener to select one.
Direct Choice
Asking someone to choose between two specific items or actions.
“你想看{电影|diànyǐng}还是想看{电视|diànshì}？”
“他是{老师|lǎoshī}还是{学生|xuéshēng}？”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Noun Choice
|
N1 + 还是 + N2
|
咖啡还是茶？
|
|
Verb Choice
|
V1 + 还是 + V2
|
去还是不去？
|
|
Action Choice
|
Subj + V1 + Obj1 + 还是 + V2 + Obj2
|
你喝咖啡还是喝茶？
|
|
Time Choice
|
Time1 + 还是 + Time2
|
今天还是明天？
|
|
Adjective Choice
|
Adj1 + 还是 + Adj2
|
大还是小？
|
|
Negative Choice
|
Affirmative + 还是 + Negative
|
要还是不要？
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
您想喝咖啡还是茶？ (Ordering drinks)
你想喝咖啡还是茶？ (Ordering drinks)
喝咖啡还是茶？ (Ordering drinks)
咖啡还是茶？ (Ordering drinks)
The Choice Fork
Nouns
- 咖啡 coffee
- 茶 tea
Verbs
- 去 go
- 留 stay
还是 vs 或者
수준별 예문
你喝咖啡还是茶？
Do you drink coffee or tea?
他是老师还是学生？
Is he a teacher or a student?
你想去还是不去？
Do you want to go or not?
这是中文还是英文？
Is this Chinese or English?
我们要坐地铁还是打车？
Should we take the subway or call a taxi?
你明天有时间还是后天有时间？
Are you free tomorrow or the day after?
这件衣服太贵了，买还是不买？
This shirt is too expensive, should I buy it or not?
你想吃中餐还是西餐？
Do you want Chinese food or Western food?
你到底想留下来还是回国？
Do you actually want to stay or return to your country?
我们是现在出发还是等雨停了再走？
Should we leave now or wait until the rain stops?
你觉得这个方案更好还是那个方案更好？
Do you think this plan is better or that one?
不管你选哪一个，是红色的还是蓝色的？
Regardless of which one you choose, is it the red one or the blue one?
你这么做是出于好意还是别有用心？
Are you doing this out of good intentions or ulterior motives?
无论你是想继续深造还是直接工作，都要做好准备。
Whether you want to continue your studies or work directly, you must be prepared.
这究竟是一场误会还是蓄意破坏？
Is this actually a misunderstanding or deliberate sabotage?
你是在问我的意见还是在通知我？
Are you asking for my opinion or informing me?
人生是一场修行，你是选择随波逐流还是逆流而上？
Life is a practice; do you choose to go with the flow or swim against the current?
这不仅是技术层面的挑战，还是管理层面的危机。
This is not only a technical challenge but also a management crisis.
你是打算坚持到底还是半途而废？
Do you intend to persist to the end or give up halfway?
这到底是艺术的升华还是审美的堕落？
Is this the sublimation of art or the degradation of aesthetics?
在历史的长河中，这究竟是必然的趋势还是偶然的巧合？
In the long river of history, is this an inevitable trend or a coincidental occurrence?
你是要坚守原则还是妥协求全？
Do you intend to hold onto your principles or compromise for the sake of peace?
这番话是出自肺腑还是言不由衷？
Are these words from the heart or are they insincere?
你是要在这纷乱中独善其身，还是投身于这时代的洪流？
Do you want to keep to yourself in this chaos or throw yourself into the torrent of the era?
혼동하기 쉬운
Both mean 'or'.
Both are question markers.
Both appear in questions.
자주 하는 실수
你喝咖啡还是茶吗？
你喝咖啡还是茶？
我喝咖啡还是茶。
我喝咖啡或者茶。
你想去吗还是不去？
你想去还是不去？
咖啡还是茶？
你要咖啡还是茶？
你明天去还是不去吗？
你明天去还是不去？
你想吃中餐还是西餐吗？
你想吃中餐还是西餐？
他是老师还是学生吗？
他是老师还是学生？
我不知道他想去还是不去吗？
我不知道他想去还是不去。
无论你选咖啡还是茶吗？
无论你选咖啡还是茶。
他问我喝咖啡还是茶吗？
他问我喝咖啡还是茶。
문장 패턴
你想___还是___？
这是___还是___？
你明天___还是___？
你觉得___更好还是___更好？
Real World Usage
你要米饭还是面条？
周六还是周日？
您是想在上海工作还是在北京工作？
我们要坐火车还是飞机？
大家觉得这个颜色好看还是那个？
你要买大的还是小的？
The 'No 吗' Rule
Statement vs Question
Shorten it!
Politeness
Smart Tips
Remember: '还是' is the 'or' for questions.
Use '或者' instead of '还是'.
Shorten the verb if it's the same.
If you are asking for a choice, use '还是'. If you are stating a fact, use '或者'.
발음
Tone of 还是
还是 is pronounced with a third tone and a neutral tone. The third tone should be clear.
Choice Intonation
Option A (rising) + 还是 + Option B (falling)
Signals a choice is being offered.
암기하기
기억법
Think of '还是' as a fork in the road. You are standing at the fork, asking which way to go.
시각적 연상
Imagine holding a coffee in one hand and a tea in the other. You are looking at your friend, waiting for them to point to one.
Rhyme
Question choice, use 还是, never add 吗, that's the miss.
Story
Xiao Wang is at a restaurant. The waiter asks, 'Hot water or cold water?' The waiter uses '还是'. Xiao Wang replies, 'Hot water.' He is happy he understood the choice.
Word Web
챌린지
Ask 3 people today: 'Coffee or tea?' using the correct Chinese structure.
문화 노트
In China, offering a choice is a sign of hospitality. Using '还是' shows you are considerate of the guest's preference.
Similar usage, but often softer in tone. You might hear '要不要' more frequently alongside '还是'.
In Cantonese-speaking areas, the structure is similar, but the particle used in speech might be '定系'.
The word '还是' evolved from the combination of '还' (still) and '是' (to be).
대화 시작하기
你想喝咖啡还是茶？
你想看电影还是看书？
你明天去还是后天去？
你觉得这个方案更好还是那个方案更好？
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
Which sentence is correct?
我想要咖啡___茶。
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Find and fix the mistake:
你想去北京还是去上海吗？
A: 你想吃什么？ B: ______.
Use '看电影' and '看书'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
他明天去还是后天去？
Score: /8
연습 문제
8 exercisesWhich sentence is correct?
我想要咖啡___茶。
还是 / 你 / 咖啡 / 喝 / 茶 / ?
Find and fix the mistake:
你想去北京还是去上海吗？
A: 你想吃什么？ B: ______.
Use '看电影' and '看书'.
你喝咖啡还是茶？
他明天去还是后天去？
Score: /8
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
No, use 或者 instead. `还是` is strictly for questions.
Because `还是` already makes the sentence a question. Adding `吗` is redundant.
You can use `还是` between each one, e.g., `咖啡还是茶还是水？`.
It is neutral and used in all contexts.
Yes, but that is a different usage, e.g., `他还是想去` (He still wants to go).
Just pick one of the options, e.g., `我要咖啡`.
No, you can say `你想喝咖啡还是喝茶` or just `你想喝咖啡还是茶`.
The concept is universal, but some dialects use different particles.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
¿... o ...?
Chinese uses different words for question vs statement 'or'.
... ou ... ?
Chinese requires a specific interrogative particle.
... oder ...?
Chinese distinguishes between interrogative and declarative 'or'.
... ka ... ka?
Placement of the particle.
am ... aw ...?
Arabic has specific particles for choice questions vs yes/no.
还是
N/A
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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