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.
それとも will appear either after a comma, or at the beginning of new sentences.
- 今日は文法の勉強をしますか。それとも漢字の勉強をしますか。Do you want to study grammar today? Or rather, do you want to study Kanji?
- 来週はどこに行きたい?動物園に行く?それとも家でゆっくりする?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?
- 今日は海に行こうか、それとも川に行こうか、迷うな。I don't know whether to go to the ocean or the river today.
Synonyms
Examples
今夜はカラオケに行く?それとも映画館?
Are you going to karaoke tonight? Or rather, to the cinema?
クレジットカードで払う?それとも現金で?
Are you paying with a credit card? Or rather, in cash?
生きるべきか、それとも死ぬべきか。それが問題だ。
To live, or to die. That is the question.
苦情を言うべきか、それとも我慢すべきか。
Should we complain? Or rather, should we persevere?
自分で洗おうか、それともクリーニングに出そうか迷うところです。
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, または, もしくは and あるいは
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Additional Breakdown and Example Sentences
JapaneseTest4You
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[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 421
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それとも – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
s1212z
Can それか be substituted for それとも?
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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