or; perhaps; maybe
Meanings
3 senses · 10 examplesadverb
perhaps; maybe
neutralUsed to express possibility or uncertainty, often at the beginning of a sentence. Slightly more formal than "也许" (yě xǔ).
Leave quickly, maybe you can still catch the bus.
He didn't come today, perhaps he is sick.
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Perhaps we can meet at another time.
conjunction
or; either... or...
neutralUsed to connect two or more alternatives. Can be repeated as "或者...或者..." to emphasize a choice between options.
Either you read this book first, or I read it first.
This weekend we can go see a movie, or go hiking.
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The answer can be "yes," or "no."
Either tea or coffee, choose one.
conjunction
that is; i.e.; in other words
formalUsed to connect two terms or phrases that refer to the same concept, often for explanation or clarification. More formal than the other senses.
Worldview, that is, cosmology, is people's overall view of the world.
Linguistics, i.e., the study of language, is an important discipline.
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This animal's scientific name is "Ailuropoda melanoleuca," or it is called "giant panda."