Chinese–EnglishWith examples

或是

huò shì · huo shi

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 5

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. or
  2. either one or the other
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In a conversation

0:19 cartoon

Coffee or tea?

  1. Liangliang

    今天(jīntiān)我(wǒ)请客(qǐngkè)，你(nǐ)选(xuǎn)咖啡(kāfēi)或是(huòshì)茶(chá)。

    My treat today. Pick coffee or tea.

  2. Dengdeng

    谢谢(xièxie)！那(nà)我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)喝(hē)咖啡(kāfēi)，或是(huòshì)茶(chá)，或是(huòshì)果汁(guǒzhī)。

    Thanks! Then I'd like coffee, or tea, or juice.

  3. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)只(zhǐ)请(qǐng)一杯(yībēi)。

    I'm only paying for one cup.

  4. Dengdeng

    好吧(hǎoba)，咖啡(kāfēi)或是(huòshì)茶(chá)，你(nǐ)帮(bāng)我(wǒ)选(xuǎn)。

    Okay. Coffee or tea, you choose for me.

  5. Liangliang

    那(nà)就(jiù)喝(hē)白水(báishuǐ)吧(ba)，不用(bùyòng)选(xuǎn)。

    Then have plain water. No need to choose.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

你(nǐ)可(kě)以(yǐ)拿(ná)大(dà)的(de)盒(hé)子(zi)或(huò)是(shì)小(xiǎo)的(de)盒(hé)子(zi)。

You may take either the big box or the small one.

Tatoeba: Chinese by Martha · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

健(jiàn)康(kāng)比(bǐ)财(cái)富(fù)重(zhòng)要(yào)。这(zhè)句(jù)话(huà)是(shì)对(duì)呢(ne) ? 或(huò)是(shì)错(cuò)呢(ne) ?

Health is more important than wealth. Is this statement true? Or is it false?

Tatoeba: Chinese by mimosawang · English by frpzzd · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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