PMT Advanced #73: Practice "Or" Structures

🌀 Pearls of Mandarin: Translation (Advanced) #73

Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟

Something new this week:

For the first time, I’m sending two PM Translation worksheets at once: an Easy version and an Advanced version.

This worksheet you’re reading right now is the 🌳 Advanced version, specifically designed for learners around HSK levels 4–5-6.

If you’re looking for something simpler to practice first, check your inbox for the Easy version or click here!

In this week’s CGG #74 lesson, we explored the different ways Mandarin expresses “or”: using 还是 (háishì) for questions, 或者 (huòzhě) for statements, and even situations where no explicit “or” is needed.

These translation exercises will help you become comfortable using each of these patterns naturally. You’ll practice asking clear questions with 还是, providing options smoothly with 或者, and expressing choices without explicitly saying “or.”

The more you practice switching between these structures, the easier it will become to express choices naturally in your everyday Mandarin conversations!

Recap of CGG #74 lesson

• No explicit ‘or’ needed: Sometimes Mandarin skips the explicit “or” word entirely! Simply list two options with a pause and questioning tone to imply choice. This natural pattern relies on context and intonation, perfect for casual, quick questions where the meaning is clear.

• Using 还是 (háishì): The standard “or” for asking questions where you expect someone to choose between specific options. It only appears in questions or implied question contexts, creating that clear “A or B?” structure where you want a definitive answer.

• Using 或者 (huòzhě): The “or” for statements rather than questions, used when describing possibilities or alternatives without demanding an immediate choice. You can use it once between options or pair it for emphasis, presenting alternatives in a neutral, descriptive way.

• Using 或是 (huòshì): Functions almost identically to 或者 but with regional and stylistic differences: more common in Taiwan Mandarin and formal or literary writing, while 或者 dominates casual mainland speech.

🌳 Today’s Advanced Exercises

Translate these English sentences into Mandarin:

1. Should we hold this meeting online or in person?

2. Should we adopt traditional methods or try new solutions?

3. Entrepreneurs either leverage emerging technologies or capitalize on market inefficiencies.

4. Do you think that the exploration of Mars represents humanity’s greatest scientific achievement or that deep ocean research offers more immediate benefits for our planet?

Take your time, and remember: practicing will help you sound more natural and confident in your Mandarin conversations. You’ve got this! 💫

🌳 Translation #1

Should we hold this meeting online or in person?

In this sentence, we’re asking a quick, casual question where the two options are clearly understood from context. When expressing choices in Mandarin where the meaning is obvious and we want to keep things conversational, we can skip the explicit “or” word entirely. This natural pattern relies on intonation and context: simply listing two options with a pause creates the questioning tone that implies choice, perfect for everyday workplace conversations where formality isn’t required.

📚 Structure: [Question Setup] + [Option A] + ，+ [Option B] + ？

Let’s break down the translation step by step:

• 这 (zhè) means “this.”

• 次 (cì) is the measure word for occurrences or instances, often translated as “times.”

• 会议 (huìyì) means “meeting.”

• 我们 (wǒmen) means “we.”

• 线上 (xiànshàng) means “online.”

  • 线 (xiàn) means “line” and 上 (shàng) means “on/above.”

  • Together they create the term for “online.”

• 开 (kāi) here means “to hold” or “to conduct” (in the context of meetings).

• ， is the pause that replaces an explicit “or.”

• 线下 (xiànxià) means “offline” or “in person.”

  • 线 (xiàn) means “line” and 下 (xià) means “under/below.”

  • This creates the contrast with 线上.

• 开 (kāi) again means “to hold” (repeated for the second option).

Notes

• Don’t use 还是 (háishì) here if you want to sound casual and natural.

• The questioning tone comes from intonation, not grammar markers.

• 线上 (xiànshàng) and 线下 (xiànxià) are modern terms that have become standard in business contexts.

• Notice how 开 (kāi) is repeated for both options to maintain parallel structure.

Recap

• 这次会议我们线上开，线下开？

• 这 / 次 / 会议 / 我们 / 线上 / 开 / ，/ 线下 / 开 / ？

• zhè cì huìyì wǒmen xiànshàng kāi, xiànxià kāi?

• Should we hold this meeting online or in person?

• this / (measure word 次) / meeting / we / online / hold / offline / hold / ?

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🌳 Translation #2

Should we adopt traditional methods or try new solutions?