8 Choice questions with háishi 还是

To ask a question that offers a choice of answers, you need to use háishi 还是, a question word which is equivalent to the construction ‘Do…/Does…/Are…/Is…/Would …or …?’ in English.

Table 2 Example 1 of a choice question using háishi 还是

Tā shì Yīngguórén háishì měiguórén?
她 是 英 国 人 还 是 美 国 人?
lit. She is British, or American (Is she British or American?)

Table 3 Example 2 of a choice question using háishi 还是

Nǐ kàn diànshì, kàn shū, háishì xiě hànzì?
你 看 电 视 , 看书, 还 是 写 汉 字 ?
lit. You watch TV, read books or write characters? (Do you watch TV, read books or write characters?)

Activity 8

Do you need the question word 吗 at the end of a choice question?