HSK 7-9
或A或B
huò A huò B
Either A or B
Structure
或 + Monosyllabic/Disyllabic word (A) + 或 + Monosyllabic/Disyllabic word (B)
How it works
The structure '或A或B' is a literary or formal way to express alternatives, similar to 'either A or B' or 'sometimes A, sometimes B'. It is frequently used in written Chinese to list varying states, possibilities, or opposing qualities within a specific context.
Examples
街上的行人或走或停，都在享受这午后的阳光。
Jiēshàng de xíngrén huò zǒu huò tíng, dōu zài xiǎngshòu zhè wǔhòu de yángguāng.
The pedestrians on the street were either walking or stopping, all enjoying the afternoon sunshine.
关于这个问题的看法，大家或赞成或反对，意见并不统一。
Guānyú zhège wèntí de kànfǎ, dàjiā huò zànchéng huò fǎnduì, yìjiàn bìng bù tǒngyī.
Regarding the views on this issue, people either approved or opposed; opinions were not unified.
文章的篇幅或长或短，关键在于内容的质量。
Wénzhāng de piānfú huò cháng huò duǎn, guānjiàn zàiyú nèiróng de zhìliàng.
The length of the articles may be long or short; the key lies in the quality of the content.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse this with the colloquial '或者' (huòzhě); '或A或B' is more formal and typically uses symmetrical, short words (usually 1-2 characters each).
Tip
Think of '或A或B' as a way to describe diversity within a group or a spectrum of possibilities. It often appears in descriptive or analytical writing.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See 或A或B in real Chinese
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