Chinese word

或

Pronunciation

Pinyinhuò

Meaning

  • conjunctionor

Example

请在表格中选A或B。qǐng zài biǎo gé zhōng xuǎn A huò B

Please choose A or B on the form.

Illustration for 或 (or)

More examples

考试可以用笔或电脑完成。kǎo shì ké yǐ yòng bǐ huò diàn nǎo wán chéng

You can complete the exam with a pen or a computer.

Core concept

A choice point that leaves one possibility open among several.

Common phrases

  • A或BA huò B

    A or B

Similar words

或者huò zhě: Links possible choices in conversational speech when any one of them may be selected.
还是hái shì: Introduces a question about which choice to make from several options.
要么yào me: Sets out two or more alternatives in spoken language and points to choosing one.

Definition in Chinese

表示在几个选项中选择其一，也可表示不确定或可能的连词，常见于书面语并可与其他词合用表示选择关系。biǎo shì zài jǐ gè xuǎn xiàng zhōng xuǎn zé qí yī yě kě biǎo shì bú què dìng huò kě néng de lián cí cháng jiàn yú shū miàn yǔ bìng kě yǔ qí tā cí hé yòng biǎo shì xuǎn zé guān xì

Word origin

或 (huò, "or") developed from an older indefinite sense meaning "some" or "a certain one", so it came to mark one possibility among several.

Usage tips

  • For a question about two choices, 还是 (háishi, "or") is the usual choice; 或 (huò, "or") more often joins alternatives in a statement or written phrase.

Opposites

Word lists with this word