或是 (huò shì) — (conjunction) or; connecting two alternatives | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

或是 and 或者 both mean 'or' for listing alternatives; 或者 is far more common. 或是 sounds slightly more formal/written. Use 否则 only for 'otherwise / if not' (consequence), not for plain alternatives.

conjunction

orconnecting two alternatives

Examples

或是。
Míng tiān shì xīng qī yī huò shì xīng qī èr.
Tomorrow is Monday or Tuesday.
或是。
Nǐ kě yǐ zuò fēi jī huò shì huǒ chē qù shàng hǎi.
You can take a plane or a train to Shanghai.
或是？
Zhè jiàn yī fu shì hóng de huò shì lán de?
Is this piece of clothing red or blue?

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

或 and 是 both point to alternatives, so together they mean one or the other.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

員

員yuán或huò

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

或 combines 戈, a weapon shape, with 員, which supplies the sound.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Appears in

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