それとも (or)

• Reading: それとも
• Romaji: soretomo
• Formation: Option A (question)。それとも Option B (question)？

Meaning

A coordinate conjunction connecting two alternatives expressed by sentences or clauses. It is used when asking someone to choose between two options, similar to 'or' in English questions.

それとも presents two mutually exclusive options in a question, asking the listener to choose one. It connects two complete question clauses or sentences. Unlike か, which can link nouns directly (コーヒーか紅茶), それとも requires fuller clauses or sentences on both sides. It is always used in interrogative contexts — using それとも in a statement is ungrammatical. The pattern is typically Option A ですか。それとも Option B ですか。In casual speech, the question markers may be dropped but the interrogative intonation remains. それとも is more explicit and formal than simply using か between options.

Examples

1. コーヒーにしますか。それとも紅茶にしますか。 Would you like coffee? Or would you like tea?
2. 電車で行きますか。それともバスで行きますか。 Shall we go by train? Or shall we go by bus?
3. 映画を見に行く？それとも家でゆっくりする？ Shall we go see a movie? Or relax at home?

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: interrogative

Do Say

• 肉にしますか。それとも魚にしますか。
• 今すぐ行く？それとも少し待つ？
• 現金で払いますか。それともカードにしますか。

Don't Say

• りんごそれともみかんが好きです。(それとも connects clauses or sentences, not bare nouns — use か for nouns: りんごかみかんが好きです) → りんごかみかんが好きです。
• 行きます。それとも帰りました。(それとも presents choices in a question — both options should be in question form: 行きますか。それとも帰りますか。) → 行きますか。それとも帰りますか。

Origin & History

Combines the demonstrative それ (that) with とも, an emphatic inclusive particle. Grammaticalized into a disjunctive conjunction for presenting alternatives in questions.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal