A + 还是 + B？(questions) vs A + 或者 + B (statements)
还是 (háishi) vs 或者 (huòzhě) — 'or' in questions vs statements
还是 (háishi) and 或者 (huòzhě) both translate as 'or', but they belong to different sentence types. 还是 is for QUESTIONS where you're asking someone to choose between alternatives: 你喝茶还是咖啡？(Tea or coffee?) — the listener must pick one. 或者 is for STATEMENTS where either option is acceptable, no choice is being requested: 你可以喝茶，或者喝咖啡。(You can drink tea, or coffee — either is fine.) The deciding question: am I asking the listener to choose (→还是), or just stating that either option works (→或者)? A useful check: if the sentence could be answered with 'either one', it should be 或者; if the natural answer is picking A or B, it should be 还是.
Examples
- 你想喝茶还是咖啡？nǐ xiǎng hē chá hái shi kā fēi
Do you want tea or coffee?
- 周末我们可以看电影，或者在家休息。zhōu mò wǒ men kě yǐ kàn diàn yǐng, huò zhě zài jiā xiū xi
On the weekend we can watch a movie, or rest at home.
- 你可以写信或者打电话，但你到底要写信还是打电话？nǐ kě yǐ xiě xìn huò zhě dǎ diàn huà, dàn nǐ dào dǐ yào xiě xìn hái shi dǎ diàn huà
You can write a letter or make a call, but which will you actually do — write or call?
Common mistake
✗ Wrong: 你喝茶或者咖啡？
✓ Right: 你喝茶还是咖啡？
A question that asks the listener to choose between alternatives needs 还是, not 或者 — 或者 belongs in statements where either option is fine.
Practice this pattern
Fill in the missing character:
你想喝茶＿是咖啡？
Do you want tea or coffee?