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それとも

or (in a question)

Question か。それとも、Question か。

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それとも offers a choice between two questions: 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 tea?"

It's only for questions. Each half is usually a question with か, or with rising intonation in casual speech: 電車で行く?それとも、バス?

Compare か (N5), which joins two nouns directly (コーヒーか紅茶), and または, "or" in statements, instructions and forms: 電話またはメールでご連絡ください.

It's also a way to check what someone meant: 本当なの?それとも、冗談?, "are you serious, or joking?"

In a grammar question, the clue is the question mark: if both halves are asking something, and the listener has to pick one, the answer is それとも. If it's a statement or a list, it's か or または.

Examples

  • コーヒーにしますか。それとも、紅茶こうちゃにしますか。

    Would you like coffee, or tea?

  • 電車でんしゃで行いく?それとも、バス?

    Shall we go by train, or by bus?

  • 今日きょうにしますか、それとも明日あしたにしますか。

    Shall we make it today, or tomorrow?

  • 映画えいがを見みる?それとも、買かい物ものに行いく?

    Want to see a film, or go shopping?

  • 本当ほんとうなの?それとも、冗談じょうだん?

    Are you serious, or is it a joke?

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