是...还是...
Reach for this when you're offering two options and asking the listener to pick — 'is it A or B?' It's the standard A-or-B question pattern in Chinese, and also works in indirect questions ('I don't know whether A or B'). Both options are framed as plausible; the speaker isn't leaning toward either one. Neutral register, works in casual speech, formal interviews, and news writing alike.
Structure
是 [A] 还是 [B]?
shì... háishì...?
How to Think About It
Chinese doesn't reuse 吗 for choice questions. The 还是 in the middle IS the question marker — it tells the listener 'pick one of the two I just named.' Drop the 是 at the start in casual speech ('喝茶还是咖啡?') but keep 还是 in the middle no matter what. If you swap 还是 for 或者, the sentence stops being a question and becomes a statement listing options.
Examples
你要喝茶还是咖啡？
Nǐ yào hē chá háishì kāfēi?
Do you want tea or coffee?
他是中国人还是日本人？
Tā shì Zhōngguó rén háishì Rìběn rén?
Is he Chinese or Japanese?
你今天去还是明天去？
Nǐ jīntiān qù háishì míngtiān qù?
Are you going today or tomorrow?
Common Mistake
Learners use 或者 (also 'or') in questions because both translate to English 'or.' 或者 lists options in statements; 还是 asks the listener to choose. Mixing them up turns your question into a flat declaration.
你喜欢茶或者咖啡？
你喜欢茶还是咖啡？
Don't Confuse With
或者...或者...
Lists alternatives in statements ('I'll have tea or coffee, doesn't matter'). Never use in questions.
无论是...还是...
Means 'whether A or B, the result is the same.' Same words, but it's no longer a question — it's framing two cases that share an outcome.
...吗?
Yes/no question marker. Use 吗 only when there's one option to confirm; use 是...还是... when the listener picks between two.
Practice
Fill in: 你要吃米饭____是面条？
Show answer
还
Fill in: 他是老师____是学生？
Show answer
还
Arrange: 你 / 茶 / 喝 / 是 / 咖啡 / 还是
Show answer
你是喝茶还是咖啡？
Translate to Chinese: Are you going by car or by train?
Show answer
你开车去还是坐火车去？
Write a question with 是...还是... to ask a friend about a choice they need to make.
Show answer
你今晚是想看电影还是出去吃饭？