JLPT N3Written, formal

あるいはor; or perhaps

あるいは is a formal "or", for writing and careful speech. When no other choice has been named, it is a guess: "or perhaps".

or

会かい場じょうへは電でん車しゃあるいはバスでお越こしください。

Please come to the venue by train or bus.

perhaps

あるいは、彼かれはその連れん絡らくをまだ見みていないのかもしれない。

Perhaps he has not seen the message yet.

Or

A あるいは B

The は is said "wa". Longer choices take a comma, often after か: …か、あるいは…. It can also open a second sentence.

Perhaps

あるいは + … かもしれない

Tone: Formal and a little bookish.
Where you'll meet it: Essays, reports, news, lectures, novels. Rare in everyday conversation.

Or

色いろや形かたち、あるいは素そ材ざいによって、製せい品ひんの印いん象しょうは大おおきく変かわる。

The impression a product makes changes a great deal with its color, its shape or its material.

担たん当とう者しゃにメールを送おくるか、あるいは窓まど口ぐちで直ちょく接せつ相そう談だんしてください。

Please email the person in charge, or ask in person at the counter.

資し料りょうを印いん刷さつして配はい布ふする。あるいは、共きょう有ゆうリンクを送おくってもよい。

We can print the materials and hand them out. Alternatively, we can send a shared link.

Or perhaps

Here nothing is being chosen. You are guessing at what may be so.

あるいは、道みちを間ま違ちがえたのかもしれない。

Perhaps we took a wrong turn.

Written: a novel, an essay.

もしかしたら、道みちを間ま違ちがえたのかもしれない。

Maybe we took a wrong turn.

Said. The everyday word for the same guess.

この反はん応のうは、あるいは薬くすりの副ふく作さ用ようかもしれない。

This reaction could perhaps be a side effect of the medicine.

After the topic, it is still "perhaps".

それとも, または or あるいは?

All three come out as "or" in English.

コーヒーにしますか、それとも紅こう茶ちゃにしますか。

Will you have coffee, or tea?

それとも: the "or" of a question that offers a choice. Said all the time.

黒くろまたは青あおのペンで書かいてください。

Please write in black or blue pen.

または: the "or" of statements, instructions and forms. Written and neutral.

あるいは彼かれの言いうとおりかもしれない。

Or perhaps he is right.

あるいは: a more formal または. It also means "or perhaps", when you are guessing.

それとも needs a question on each side, so it can't join two nouns in a statement.

Not said: 電でん車しゃ、それともバスで行いきます。

(I'll go by train or by bus.)

電でん車しゃかバスで行いきます.

Close neighbours

かN5

The everyday "or" between two nouns.

毎まい朝あさ、コーヒーか紅こう茶ちゃを飲のみます。

Every morning I have coffee or tea.

Check yourself

1What does this mean?

この頭ず痛つうは、あるいは寝ね不ぶ足そくのせいかもしれない。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits this notice?

申込もうしこみは電でん話わ（　　）メールで受うけ付つけます。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

申しん請せい書しょは郵ゆう送そうあるいはオンラインで提てい出しゅつできます。

The application can be submitted by mail or online.

あるいは、私わたしたちは問もん題だいの原げん因いんを取とり違ちがえているのかもしれない。

Perhaps we have misunderstood the cause of the problem.