zhongwen-obsidian/还是háishì vs 或者huòzhě.md

还是háishì and 或者huòzhě are both translated into English as "or", but their meaning is actually different. This is due to some ambiguity in the English language; Chinese makes a distinction between the two meanings of "or" where English doesn't (or only uses intonation while speaking to do so).

Consider the sentence "Are you going today or tomorrow?":

1. If spoken with a rising intonation on "today", and falling intonation on "tomorrow", then you are asking them to answer with a choice of either "today" or "tomorrow". That is to say, you're asking a choice question.
2. If spoken with a gradual rising intonation throughout the sentence, and no pause after "today", you are asking them if they are going either today or tomorrow. You're not asking which of the two, just if it's either of them. Thus, you're asking a yes/no question.

In Chinese 还是 is used for (1), and 或者 is used for (2):

1. 你要铅笔还是钢笔？ Do you want a pen, or do you want a pencil?
2. 你要铅笔或者钢笔？ Do you (or do you not) want a pen or pencil? When not asking questions -- in statements -- or is always translated by 或者.