还是

• Pinyin: hái shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 还 (still) + 是 (to be) — weighing options or expressing preference

Meaning

Or (in questions); had better; still. Used to offer choices in questions or to express a preference.

In questions, 还是 presents two or more choices (你喝茶还是咖啡？). In statements, it means 'had better' or 'after all' (还是回家吧). Different from 或者, which is used in statements, not questions.

Examples

1. 你喝茶还是喝咖啡？ Do you drink tea or coffee?
2. 我们还是走吧。 We'd better get going.
3. 你坐公共汽车还是坐地铁？ Do you take the bus or the subway?

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, decision-making

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你要米饭还是面条？(Do you want rice or noodles?)
• 天太晚了，还是打车吧。(It's too late, let's just take a taxi.)

Don't Say

• 我喜欢猫还是狗。(In statements, use 或者 instead — 还是 is for questions or suggestions)

Origin & History

Compound of 还 (still, also) and 是 (to be) — literally 'still is', used to weigh options or express a continued preference.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal