还是還是 háishi — or (in a question)
háishi (second tone, rising)hai2shi5
Traditional: 還是
or (in a question)
HSK 3· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 3· Three-band, nine-level standardconjunctionadverb
Meanings
or (in a question)
Offers a choice inside a question: 你喝茶还是喝咖啡? In a statement the word for "or" is 或者 — the two are never interchangeable.
conjunctionhad better, all the same (advising a choice)
adverb
Character breakdown
Example sentences
- 你想喝茶还是喝咖啡?你想喝茶還是喝咖啡?Nǐ (third tone, dipping) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) hē (first tone, high and level) chá (second tone, rising) háishi (second tone, rising) hē (first tone, high and level) kāfēi? (first tone, high and level)···
Would you like tea or coffee?
- 外面下雨,我们还是别出去了。外面下雨,我們還是別出去了。Wàimiàn (fourth tone, falling) xià (fourth tone, falling) yǔ, (third tone, dipping) wǒmen (third tone, dipping) háishi (second tone, rising) bié (second tone, rising) chūqu (first tone, high and level) le. (neutral tone)···
It’s raining outside — we’d better not go out after all.
Common mistakes
Not quite我想喝茶还是咖啡。
Correct我想喝茶或者咖啡。
还是 belongs in questions, where it offers the listener a choice. In a statement, where you are the one choosing, "or" is 或者.