Alternative complex sentence “或者……，或者……”

In Chinese the pattern “或者……，或者……” (huòzhě..., huòzhě...) expresses a choice between two or more options.

The pattern is mostly used in spoken Chinese.

Basic Structure

或者 + option 1，或者 + option 2

In English:

Either …, or …

If there are more options:

或者 + option 1，或者 + option 2，或者 + option 3

或(Huò)者(zhě)明(míng)天(tiān)去(qù)，或(huò)者(zhě)后(hòu)天(tiān)去(qù)，我(wǒ)给(gěi)你(nǐ)打(dǎ)电(diàn)话(huà)。

I'll go either tomorrow or the day after — I'll call you.

Structure

或者明天去 + 或者后天去 either go tomorrow + or go the day after 或者明天去 — either go tomorrow 或者后天去 — or go the day after 我给你打电话 — I'll give you a call

This sentence has two possible options:

明天去 — go tomorrow or 后天去 — go the day after tomorrow

我(Wǒ)们(men)或(huò)者(zhě)今(jīn)天(tiān)去(qù)电(diàn)影(yǐng)院(yuàn)看(kàn)电(diàn)影(yǐng)，或(huò)者(zhě)明(míng)天(tiān)在(zài)家(jiā)看(kàn)电(diàn)影(yǐng)。

We'll either go to the cinema today, or watch a film at home tomorrow.

Structure

或者今天去电影院看电影 + 或者明天在家看电影或者今天去电影院看电影 — either go to the cinema today to watch a film 或者明天在家看电影 — or watch a film at home tomorrow

Here too one of two options is chosen.

晚(Wǎn)饭(fàn)你(nǐ)自(zì)己(jǐ)选(xuǎn)，或(huò)者(zhě)吃(chī)中(Zhōng)国(guó)菜(cài)，或(huò)者(zhě)吃(chī)日(Rì)本(běn)菜(cài)，或(huò)者(zhě)吃(chī)泰(Tài)国(guó)菜(cài)。

Choose dinner yourself: either Chinese food, or Japanese, or Thai.

Structure

或者吃中国菜 + 或者吃日本菜 + 或者吃泰国菜晚饭你自己选 — choose dinner yourself 或者吃中国菜 — either eat Chinese food 或者吃日本菜 — or Japanese food 或者吃泰国菜 — or Thai food

This sentence has three options.

或者……，或者……

Meaning: a choice of one option among two or more.

Examples:

或(Huò)者(zhě)明(míng)天(tiān)去(qù)，或(huò)者(zhě)后(hòu)天(tiān)去(qù)。

I'll go either tomorrow or the day after.

或(Huò)者(zhě)吃(chī)中(Zhōng)国(guó)菜(cài)，或(huò)者(zhě)吃(chī)日(Rì)本(běn)菜(cài)。

We'll have either Chinese food or Japanese.