或者

或者

1. or

   甲或者乙  ―  jiǎ huòzhě yǐ  ―  A or B

2. either ... or ...; or

• In Mandarin, 或者 is exclusively used in statements, while 還是／还是 (háishì) is only used in questions. The inclusion of 還是／还是 in a sentence replaces the need for 嗎／吗 (ma) as a question word.
• In Cantonese, 或者 is exclusively used in statements, while 抑或 (jik1 waak6) or 定係／定系 (ding6 hai6) is only used in questions.

• (or): 或是 (huòshì), 或 (huò); (Hokkien) 抑是, 抑
• (either ... or ...):

或者

1. perhaps; maybe
   • 18th century, Cao Xueqin, chapter 6, in Dream of the Red Chamber:

     如今王府雖陞了邊任，只怕這二姑太太還認得咱們。你何不去走動走動，或者他念舊，有些好處也未可定。只要他發一點好心，拔一根寒毛比咱們的腰還粗呢。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     如今王府虽升了边任，只怕这二姑太太还认得咱们。你何不去走动走动，或者他念旧，有些好处也未可定。只要他发一点好心，拔一根寒毛比咱们的腰还粗呢。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     Rújīn Wáng fǔ suī shēng le biānrèn, zhǐpà zhè èr gūtàitai hái rèn de zánmen. Nǐ hé bù qù zǒudòng zǒudòng, huòzhě tā niànjiù, yǒu xiē hǎochù yě wèi kě dìng. Zhǐyào tā fā yī diǎn hǎo xīn, bá yī gēn hánmáo bǐ zánmen de yāo hái cū ne.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1976 revised / 1955–56, 金庸, chapter 3, in 書劍恩仇錄, 明河社, page 122:

     出事之時，老莊主或者眞不在家。 [MSC, trad.]
     出事之时，老庄主或者真不在家。 [MSC, simp.]

     Chūshì zhīshí, lǎo zhuāngzhǔ huòzhě zhēn bù zài jiā.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2001, Chiung Yao, 情深深雨濛濛, episode 18 (49 episodes version), 赵薇 (actor):

     書桓，我們馬上去找方瑜，把這件事情告訴他。或者還來得及救他。 [MSC, trad.]
     书桓，我们马上去找方瑜，把这件事情告诉他。或者还来得及救他。 [MSC, simp.]

     Shūhuán, wǒmen mǎshàng qù zhǎo Fāng Yú, bǎ zhè jiàn shìqing gàosu tā. Huòzhě hái láidejí jiù tā.

     Shuhuan, let's immediately go and visit Fang Yu, and tell her this affair. Maybe it is yet able to make it to save her.

   • 或者於某集，我可抬頭欣賞到你；或者一轉念便要失去你；或者轉折漸太多，遺忘怎擁抱你；或者擁緊偏已斷氣。 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
     或者于某集，我可抬头欣赏到你；或者一转念便要失去你；或者转折渐太多，遗忘怎拥抱你；或者拥紧偏已断气。 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 連續劇 by Joey Yung

     waak⁶ ze² jyu¹ mau⁵ zaap⁶, ngo⁵ ho² toi⁴ tau⁴ jan¹ soeng² dou³ nei⁵; waak⁶ ze² jat¹ zyun² nim⁶ bin⁶ jiu³ sat¹ heoi³ nei⁵; waak⁶ ze² zyun² zit³ zim⁶ taai³ do¹, wai⁴ mong⁴ zam² jung² pou⁵ nei⁵; waak⁶ ze² jung² gan² pin¹ ji⁵ dyun⁶ hei³.

     Maybe in a certain episode, I can lift my head up and admire you; maybe one second later I will lose you; maybe have gone through too many things that forgot how to embrace you; maybe hold tightly, you have already breathed your last.

或者

1. (Classical) some people

或者 • (hokja) (hangeul 혹자)

1. hanja form^? of 혹자 (“some, someone, some people”)