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あるいは. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
あるいは, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
あるいは in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
あるいは you have here. The definition of the word
あるいは will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
あるいは, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Japanese
- あるひは (aruhiha) (non-etymological historical spelling)
Etymology
ある (aru, “to be, to exist”, 連体形 (rentaikei) of the classical verb あり (ari)) + い (i, nominalizing suffix) + は (wa, topic marker).[1] Arose from 漢文訓読 (kanbun kundoku).
Pronunciation
Conjunction
あるいは • (aruiwa)
- or, either; some ... and others
- Synonyms: または (mata wa), もしくは (moshiku wa)
- フランス語あるいはドイツ語を勉強したいと思っている。
- Furansu-go aruiwa Doitsu-go o benkyō shitai to omotte iru.
- I'm thinking about learning French or German.
Usage notes
This term is often spelled in hiragana.
Adverb
あるいは • (aruiwa)
- perhaps; maybe
- Synonyms: もしかすると (moshika suru to), ひょっとしたら (hyotto shitara)
- 明日はあるいは雨が降るかもしれない。
- Asu wa aruiwa ame ga furu ka mo shirenai.
- It will perhaps rain tomorrow.
- (repeated in the form あるいは…あるいは… (aruiwa … aruiwa …)) sometimes; some
- あるいは野球をし、あるいは庭球をする。
- Aruiwa yakyū o shi, aruiwa teikyū o suru.
- Sometimes I play baseball; sometimes I play tennis.
Usage notes
This term is often spelled in hiragana.
Phrase
あるいは • (arui wa)
- (usually repeated in the form あるいは…あるいは… (arui wa … arui wa …), obsolete) some; some people; something; sometimes
- c. late 9th–mid-10th century, Taketori Monogatari
- あるいは笛を吹き、あるいは歌をうたひ、…
- Arui wa fue o fuki, arui wa uta o utai, …
- Some played the flute, some sang songs, …
References