The "either... or..." patterns
The following structures are the same in translation, but different in usage.
The 或者…或者… pattern
One easy way to give two options is to precede each one with 或者…或者… 
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或者 is followed by a predicate expressed by either a verb or a verb phrase.
The subject is placed before the structure.
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或者 is followed by a predicate expressed by either a verb or a verb phrase.
The subject is placed before the structure.Examples
我或者学日语，或者学汉语，还没决定
I will learn either Japanese or Chinese, I haven't decided yet.
wǒ huòzhě xué rìyǔ, huòzhě xué hànyǔ, hái méi juédìng
明天是周末，我或者在家看书，或者去河边钓鱼
Tomorrow is the weekend., I'll either read a book at home or go fishing
jíngtiān shì zhōumò, wǒ huòzhě zài jiā kàn shū, huòzhě qù hébiān diàoyú
我还没研究这个东西，这个或者是陶器或者是玻璃, 是吗？
I haven't figured out what the material is yet. It's either pottery or glass, isn't it?
wǒ hái méi yánjiū zhè ge dōngxi, zhè ge huòzhě shì táoqì huòzhě shì bōlí, shì ma
If a sentence has two subjects, 或者 is placed after each subject.
Pay attention
However, these sentences are rare.
Examples
只有一个香蕉，或者你吃或者我吃
There is only one banana. Either you eat it or I eat it
zhǐ yǒu yí ge xiāngjiāo, huòzhě nǐ chī huòzhě wǒ chī
The structure can be shortened to 或…或…. It is usually a set expression consisting of four characters.
Examples
我们都或多或少对这些人感同身受
We all more or less sympathize with these people
wǒmen dōu huò duō huò shǎo duì zhèxiē rén gǎntóngshēnshòu
他的每一位老师都对他的作品做出了或大或小的贡献
Each of his teachers contributed in some way to his creativity
tā de měi yí wèi lǎoshī dōu duì tā de zuòpǐn zuò chū le huò dà huò xiǎo de gòngxiàn
或...或... is also used when the speaker hesitates between two options.
This structure is used with noun phrases.
Examples
他把信藏在某个秘密的地方了，或一块石头下面，或一棵树后面
He hid the letter in a hiding place, either under a rock or behind a tree
tā bǎ xìn cáng zài mǒu ge mìmì de dìfang le, huò yí kuài shítou xiàmian, huò yì kē shù hòumian
阿姨每次来我家都带着一群朋友，或二三人，或三四人，大家说说笑笑
Every time my aunt comes to visit me, shebrings 2-3 or 3-4 friends, and we all chat and laugh. 那个人或她弟弟，或他哥哥，因为长得很像她的 That person is either her younger brother, or her older brother, because he looks like her
āyí měi cì lái wǒ jiā dōu dàizhe yì qún péngyou, huò èrsān rén, huò sānsì rén, dàjiā shuōshuō xiàoxiào
那个人或她弟弟，或他哥哥，因为长得很像她的
That person is either her younger brother, or her older brother, because he looks like her.
nà ge rén huò tā dìdi, huò tā gēge, yīnwèi zhǎng de hěn xiàng tā de
The 要么…要么… pattern
要么…要么… is used for offering two possible options. It is often used to set some kind of condition.
The subject is placed before the structure.
要么 can be followed by either a predicate or a verb phrase.
is used for offering two possible options. It is often used to set some kind of condition.
The subject is placed before the structure.
要么 can be followed by either a predicate or a verb phrase.
Pay attention
It can also be used for more than two options.
Examples
你要么明天过来要么就别来
You either come tomorrow or you don't come at all
nǐ yàome míngtiān guòlái yàome jiù bié lái
要么进来，要么出去，别站在这儿
Either get in or get out- don't just stand there
yàome jìnlái, yàome chūqù, bié zhàn zài zhèr
要么学英语，要么学汉语，要么学德语
Learn English, Chinese, or German
yàome xué yīngyǔ, yàome xué hànyǔ, yàome xué déyǔ
The structure is also used to express assumptions or conjectures.
Examples
你要么是疯了，要么是喝醉了
You are either crazy or you’re drunk
nǐ yàome shì fēng le, yàome shì hēzuì le
他要么窒息而死，要么冻死了
He either suffocated or froze to death
tā yàome zhìxí ér sǐ, yàome dòng sǐ le
他们要么叫你魔鬼，要么称你上帝
They call you either the devil or God
tāmen yàome jiào nǐ móguǐ, yàome chēng nǐ shàngdì
The 或是…或是… pattern
The structure 或是….或是… is used in written language in affirmative sentences when referring to two options.
或是 can be followed by either a word or a phrase.
is used in written language in affirmative sentences when referring to two options.
或是 can be followed by either a word or a phrase.Examples
他或是辞职了，或是被辞退了, 这我不知道
He either resigned or was fired, I don't know
tā huòshì cízhíle, huòshì bèi cítuì le, zhè wǒ bù zhīdào
市政府有打算在这个地方做或是超市，或是室内游乐场
The municipal government plans to build either a supermarket or an indoor playground in this place
shì zhèngfǔ yǒu dǎsuan zài zhè ge dìfang zuò huòshì chāoshì, huòshì shìnèi yóulè chǎng
你或是现在完成这件事，或是明天我给你更多的任务
You either finish it now, or I'll give you more tasks tomorrow
nǐ huòshì xiànzài wánchéng zhè jiàn shì, huòshì míngtiān wǒ gěi nǐ gèng duō de rènwù