还是hái shior (in questions; offering a choice)

1. 1.

   or (in questions; offering a choice)conjunction

2. 2.

   still (as before)adverb

3. 3.

   had better; it would be better toadverb

• 还still; still in progress
• 是to be (neutral tone in this word)

还是 is for “or” in questions; for “or” in statements, use 或者 instead. It can also mean “still” or “had better” outside choice questions.

1. HSK 2

   你要喝茶还是咖啡？

   Nǐ yào hē chá háishi kāfēi?

   Do you want to drink tea or coffee?

2. HSK 3

   这是水还是酒？

   Zhè shì shuǐ háishi jiǔ?

   Is this water or alcohol?

3. HSK 2

   虽然他不想去，但是还是去了。

   Suīrán tā bù xiǎng qù, dànshì háishì qù le.

   Although he didn't want to go, he still went.

4. HSK 3

   太晚了，我们还是先回家吧。

   Tài wǎn le, wǒmen háishi xiān huíjiā ba.

   It's too late. We'd better go home first.

还是 links Option A or Option B in a question that expects a choice. 或者 (huò zhě) links alternatives in a statement.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你要喝茶还是咖啡？

   Nǐ yào hē chá háishi kāfēi?

   Do you want to drink tea or coffee?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   我要喝茶。

   Wǒ yào hē chá.

   I want tea.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   太晚了，我们怎么办？

   Tài wǎn le, wǒmen zěnmebàn?

   It's too late—what should we do?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   我们还是先回家吧。

   Wǒmen háishi xiān huíjiā ba.

   We'd better go home first.

1. 1.Fill in the blank: 你要喝茶___咖啡？

   A或者B还是C因为
2. 2.Fill in the blank: 太晚了，我们___先回家吧。

   A还是B或者C所以
3. 3.Which word fits the question: 这是水___酒？

   A或者B但是C还是

• Free HSK 3 level testSee which HSK 3.0 level your vocabulary matches.
• HSK 2 word listEvery word at this level, with examples.
• HSK 3.0 guideHow the nine levels and three bands work.

Related words

• 或者huò zhěor (in statements)HSK 3
• 但是dàn shìbut; howeverHSK 2
• 因为yīn wèibecauseHSK 2
• 所以suǒ yǐtherefore; as a result; soHSK 2
• 如果rú guǒif; in case; in the event thatHSK 3
• 可是kě shìbutHSK 3

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