HSK 7-9
或……，或……
huò..., huò...
Either...or... (literary)
Structure
或 + Verb/Adjective/Phrase, 或 + Verb/Adjective/Phrase
How it works
This is a literary correlative conjunction used to list multiple situations, possibilities, or characteristics. It is more formal than '或者' and is typically used in written Chinese or classical-style prose to describe a variety of states or actions.
Examples
街上的行人或走或停，神态各异。
Jiē shàng de xíngrén huò zǒu huò tíng, shéntài gèyì.
The pedestrians on the street were either walking or stopping, each with a different expression.
书架上的书籍或新或旧，记录着主人的成长。
Shūjià shàng de shūjí huò xīn huò jiù, jìlùzhe zhǔrén de chéngzhǎng.
The books on the shelf, some new and some old, record the owner's growth.
周末他或居家读书，或外出写生。
Zhōumò tā huò jūjiā dúshū, huò wàichū xiěshēng.
On weekends, he either stays home to read or goes out to sketch.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse this literary '或' with the modern '或者' in casual speech; using '或..., 或...' in a very informal conversation can sound overly dramatic or archaic.
Tip
To maintain poetic balance, try to keep the phrases following each '或' similar in length (often 1 or 2 characters).
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See 或……，或…… in real Chinese
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