The difference between "か", "または", "あるいは" and "それとも"

June 20, 2020

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They are used to give an option, but there is a slight difference.
Please memorize these three things to use these expressions correctly.

  1. If you don't know the difference, you should use "か". It is mostly used in everyday conversation.
  2. "あるいは" and "または" are interchangeable in many cases.
  3. You CANNOT use "それとも" in an affirmative sentence. But you can use "それとも" in an interrogative sentence/phrase.

◆か (article, casual): It is used when a speaker gives 2 items and more as an option.

  • [OK]コーヒーか、紅茶から選んでください。
  • [OK]コーヒーか、紅茶か、ジュースから選んでください。
  • [OK]明日は雨か雪になる。
  • [OK]明日は雨か雪になるかもしれない。
  • [OK]進学するか、就職するかを決めてください。
  • [OK]進学するのか？就職するのか？
◆あるいは (adverb/conjunction, formal) : It is used when a speaker gives 2 items and more as an option. The speaker lists those items and it is also used when one of the mentioned actions is likely to happen(with reference to the forth example).

  • [OK]コーヒーあるいは、紅茶から選んでください。
  • [OK]コーヒー、紅茶あるいはジュースから選んでください。
  • [OK]明日は雨あるいは雪になる。
  • [OK]明日は雨あるいは雪になるかもしれない。
  • [OK]進学するか、あるいは就職するかを決めてください。
  • [OK]進学するのか？あるいは就職するのか？
◆または(conjunction, formal): It is used when a speaker gives 2 items and more as an option.

  • [OK]コーヒーまたは、紅茶から選んでください。
  • [OK]コーヒー、紅茶またはジュースから選んでください。
  • [OK]明日は雨または雪になる。
  • [NG]明日は雨または雪になるかもしれない。
  • [OK]進学するか、または就職するかを決めてください。
  • [OK]進学するのか？または就職するのか？
◆それとも (conjunction, casual) : It is used only in an interrogative sentence/phrase.

  • [NG]コーヒーそれとも、紅茶から選んでください。
  • [NG]コーヒー、紅茶それともジュースから選んでください。
  • [NG]明日晴れたら、サッカーそれとも野球をしよう。
  • [NG]明日は雨それとも雪になる。
  • [NG]明日は雨それとも雪になるかもしれない。
  • [OK]進学するか、それとも就職するかを決めてください。
    -->"それとも" can be used because it is in an interrogative phrase.
  • [OK]進学するのか？それとも就職するのか？
    -->"それとも" can be used because it is in an interrogative sentence.

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Related posts:

  1. モヤモヤする[moya moya suru]: feel uneasy
  2. はず [hazu]: be supposed to
  3. だけど, けど[dakedo, kedo]: but
  4. The difference between “より～ほうが“ and “まだしも“
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