44.5 The Conjunction 一係 jat1 hai6 (‘either … or …’)

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The conjunction 一係 jat1 hai6 means ‘either … or’. We use it to indicate two options that we can choose between. We put 一係 jat1 hai6 before each option.

The options can be verb phrases.

一係
jat1 hai6
‘either’		Verb Phrase 1
(Option 1)		一係
jat1 hai6
‘or’		Verb Phrase 2
(Option 2)
一係蒸，一係煎。
jat1 hai6zing1,jat1 hai6zin1.
eithersteamorpan-fry
Either steam or pan-fry.
一係買紅衫魚，一係買大眼雞。
jat1 hai6maai5 hung4 saam1 jyu2,jat1 hai6maai5 daai6 ngaan5 gai1.
eitherbuy golden thread fishorbuy bigeye
Either buy golden thread fish or buy bigeye.

The options can also be noun phrases.

一係
jat1 hai6
‘either’		Noun Phrase 1
(Option 1)		一係
jat1 hai6
‘or’		Noun Phrase 2
(Option 2)
一係紅衫魚，一係大眼雞。
jat1 hai6hung4 saam1 jyu2,jat1 hai6daai6 ngaan5 gai1.
eithergolden thread fishorbigeye
Either golden thread fish or bigeye.
一係蜆，一係蟶子。
jat1 hai6hin2,jat1 hai6sing3 zi2.
eitherclamsorrazor clams
Either clams or razor clams.

In Grammar and Vocabulary 14.4, we learned to use the conjunction 就 zau6 to show contrast between things. We often put 就 zau6 after 一係 jat1 hai6 to show contrast.

一係
jat1 hai6
‘either’		就
zau6		Verb Phrase 1
(Option 1)		一係
jat1 hai6
‘or’		就
zau6		Verb Phrase 2
(Option 2)
一係就蒸，一係就煎。
jat1 hai6zau6zing1,jat1 hai6zau6zin1.
either[contrast]steamor[contrast]pan-fry
Either steam or pan-fry.
一係就買紅衫魚，一係就買大眼雞。
jat1 hai6zau6maai5 hung4 saam1 jyu2,jat1 hai6zau6maai5 daai6 ngaan5 gai1.
either[contrast]buy golden thread fishor[contrast]buy bigeye
Either buy golden thread fish or buy bigeye.
一係
jat1 hai6
‘either’		就
zau6		Noun Phrase 1
(Option 1)		一係
jat1 hai6
‘or’		就
zau6		Noun Phrase 2
(Option 2)
一係就紅衫魚，一係就大眼雞。
jat1 hai6zau6hung4 saam1 jyu2,jat1 hai6zau6daai6 ngaan5 gai1.
either[contrast]golden thread fishor[contrast]bigeye
Either golden thread fish or bigeye.
一係就蜆，一係就蟶子。
jat1 hai6zau6hin2,jat1 hai6zau6sing3 zi2.
either[contrast]clamsor[contrast]razor clams
Either clams or razor clams.