または

• 読み: または
• ローマ字: matawa
• 漢字の分解: 又 (mata) — again, also, or
• 発音: /ma.ta.wa/

意味

Or; otherwise. A conjunction used to present alternatives.

A formal conjunction connecting two alternatives. More polite and written-style than か or それとも. Common in announcements, forms, instructions, and formal speech. Can be written in kanji as 又は but hiragana is standard in modern usage.

例文

1. 電話またはメールでご連絡ください。
2. コーヒーまたは紅茶をお選びください。
3. 土曜日または日曜日に届きます。

使い方ガイド

場面: written instructions, announcements, formal speech

トーン: formal

起源と歴史

From 又 (mata, again/also) combined with the topic particle は. Originally indicated repetition or addition, later evolving to express alternatives.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal