Definition
或 (huò) has two common uses: as a conjunction meaning 'or' (like 或者, but more formal and often used in writing) and as an adverb meaning 'maybe' or 'perhaps'. As an adverb, it is similar to 也许 (yěxǔ) or 可能 (kěnéng), but is less common in everyday conversation and has a slightly more literary feel.
conjunction
or (used to link alternatives)
adverb
perhapsmaybemightpossibly
Easily confused
- 找zhǎolook-aliketo look for, to seek
- 活huósound-alike(verb) to live
- 戒jièlook-aliketo quit, to give up (a habit or addiction)
- 火huǒsound-alikefire (noun)
- 戏xìlook-alike(noun) drama; play; show (especially theatrical performance)
- 货huòsound-alikegoods, merchandise
- 伙huǒsound-alike(classifier) for groups of people
- 豁huōsound-alike(verb) to crack, to split, to open a gap
Examples
- 或。Nǐ kěyǐ zuò fēijī huò huǒchē qù.You can go by plane or train.
- 。Tā huòxǔ hái bù zhīdào zhège wèntí.He might not know about this problem yet.
- 。Míngtiān huòxǔ huì xià yǔ.It might rain tomorrow.
Browse more HSK 3 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.