17.8 The Conjunction 或者 waak6 ze2 (‘or’)

In Grammar and Vocabulary 6.7, we learned that the conjunction 定 ding6 or 定係 ding6 hai6 means ‘or’. We use it to indicate two or more options in a question.

The conjunction 或者 waak6 ze2 also means ‘or’. We use it to indicate two or more options in a statement, instead of a question.

When there are more than two options, we add 或者 waak6 ze2 before the last option.

We sometimes add 或者 waak6 ze2 between every option, especially when we are coming up with the options immediately so we are not sure which is the last option.

If the options appear before the verb or predicative adjective in a sentence, we can add the adverb 都 dou1 before the verb or predicative adjective to add the meaning of ‘all’. When there are only two options, we can understand 都 dou1 as ‘both’.