HSK by Foorsa
HSK GuideHSK by Foorsa

还是還是 háishi — or (in a question)

háishi (second tone, rising)hai2shi5

Traditional: 還是

or (in a question)

HSK 3· HSK 1–6 (classic)Level 1· 2021 three-band, nine-level proficiency standardconjunctionadverb
Practise this wordAsk the AI tutor

Meanings

  1. 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.

    conjunction

  2. had better, all the same (advising a choice)

    adverb

Character breakdown

  • 还還
    hái (second tone, rising) huán (second tone, rising)

    (huán) to give back, to return something, to repay; (hái) still, yet; even more; also, in addition

    7 strokes⿺辶不Radical 辵
  • 是
    shì (fourth tone, falling)

    to be (am, is, are); yes, that is so; correct, right

    9 strokes⿱日正Radical 日

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.

Similar words

Words containing 还

Words containing 是