Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 6: 11/20

それとも

Or, Or else, Rather

Used in questions, where the choice is limited to the two mentioned options.

Structure

Option (A) + それとも + Option (B)

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About それとも

それとも is a conjunction in Japanese that may be translated as 'or', or 'otherwise'. It is used to highlight alternative options or choices between (A) and (B). それとも is a combination of それ, and the particles と, and も. This grammar structure will only be used when the options are limited to either (A), or (B).
それとも will appear either after a comma, or at the beginning of new sentences.
  • 今日(きょう)は文法(ぶんぽう)の勉強(べんきょう)をしますか。それとも漢字(かんじ)の勉強(べんきょう)をしますか。
    Do you want to study grammar today? Or rather, do you want to study Kanji?
  • 来週(らいしゅう)はどこに行(い)きたい？動物園(どうぶつえん)に行(い)く？それとも家(いえ)でゆっくりする？
    Where do you want to go next week? Do you want to go to the zoo? Or rather do you want to relax at home?
  • 今日(きょう)は海(うみ)に行(い)こうか、それとも川(かわ)に行(い)こうか、迷(まよ)うな。
    I don't know whether to go to the ocean or the river today.
In many cases, (A) and (B) will be opposites of each other. However, this is not a requirement for using それとも.

Examples

  • 今夜(こんや)はカラオケに行(い)く？それとも映画館(えいがかん)？

    Are you going to karaoke tonight? Or rather, to the cinema?

  • クレジットカードで払(はら)う？それとも現金(げんきん)で？

    Are you paying with a credit card? Or rather, in cash?

  • 生(い)きるべきか、それとも死(し)ぬべきか。それが問題(もんだい)だ。

    To live, or to die. That is the question.

  • 苦情(くじょう)を言(い)うべきか、それとも我慢(がまん)すべきか。

    Should we complain? Or rather, should we persevere?

  • 自分(じぶん)で洗(あら)おうか、それともクリーニングに出(だ)そうか迷(まよ)うところです。

    I am hesitant. Shall I wash it myself? Or rather, shall I send it off to the dry cleaners?

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それとも – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • s1212z

    s1212z

    Can それか be substituted for それとも?

  • Pushindawood

    Pushindawood

    @s1212z

    For the most part, yes. However, それとも is a bit more polite/formal, while それか is used in speech. Thank you for pointing this out to us so that we could update the answers that throw hints for this grammar point. Cheers!

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