Learner's definition of OR
1
—
used to introduce another choice or possibility或,或者,还是(用于引出另一个选择或可能性) -
You can have coffee or tea.你可以喝咖啡或是茶。
-
Would you like beer, wine, or something else?你想喝啤酒、葡萄酒,还是其他什么?
-
He must be her brother—or is he? [=maybe he is not her brother]他肯定是她的哥哥——或者不是?
-
I'll call (either) today or tomorrow.我会在今天或明天打电话。
-
(somewhat informal) I didn't mean to annoy you or anything.我没想惹你生气,也没其他意思。
-
(somewhat informal) Can I get you a cup of coffee or something?我能给你来杯咖啡或是其他饮料吗?
2
—
used in negative statements to introduce something else that is also true也不(用于否定句,引出另外一件同样真实的事情) -
We couldn't stop or even slow down the whole time. [=we could not stop and we could not slow down]我们在整段时间中不能停下,甚至也不能减速。
-
They have no food or water. [=they do not have food and they do not have water]他们既没有食物也没有水。
3
—
used to say what will happen if a specified thing is not done否则,要不(表示如果不做某事会引起的后果) -
Finish your dinner or you won't get any dessert. [=if you do not finish your dinner, then you will not get any dessert]把晚饭吃完,否则就不给你吃甜品。
-
Be at the station by 5 o'clock or you will miss the bus.*5点钟前到达车站,不然你就赶不上公共汽车了。
4
—
used to introduce another number or amount that is possibly the correct one或,或者(用于引出另一个可能正确的数字或数量) -
It's been two or three years since I've seen her.我已经有两三年没见到她了。
-
The package should arrive in five or six days.包裹应该五六天后到达。
-
We waited for an hour or more.我们等了有一个小时或更久。
5
—
used to introduce the reason why something said previously is true否则,不然(用于引出前述事情为真的原因) 6
a —
used to introduce a word or phrase that defines or explains what another word or phrase means或者说,也就是(用于引出某一词语或短语的解释) -
Botany, or the science of plants, is a fascinating subject. = The science of plants, or botany, is a fascinating subject.植物学,也就是研究植物的科学,是一门迷人的学科。
-
This pan is used for sautéing, or frying, the vegetables.这种锅是用来炒或者说油煎蔬菜的。
b —
used to introduce a word or phrase that corrects or states more precisely something you have just said或者说(用于引出更精确的描述) -
We got here quickly—or more quickly than last time, anyway. = We got here quickly—or at least more quickly than last time.我们很快就到这儿了——或者说至少比上次快。
-
The building is 500, or to be precise, 502 years old.这栋大楼已有500年的历史了,或者更精确地说,是502年。
-
She breeds rabbits, or rather hares.她饲养兔子,或者更准确地说,是饲养野兔。