JLPT N3EverydaySpoken and written

それともor (asking someone to choose)

それとも is the "or" between two questions, when you ask someone to choose. People say it all the time, to friends and to customers alike.

店てん内ないで召めし上あがりますか、それともお持もち帰かえりですか。

Will you be eating here, or is it to go?

映えい画が、家いえで見みる？それとも映えい画が館かんに行いく？

Shall we watch a movie at home, or go to the movies?

How to form it

Question A、それとも + question B

Each half is a question of its own: …か、それとも…か. With friends the か goes and the voice rises twice.

Leaving it out: The two questions work without it too: ホットですか、アイスですか. それとも makes it plain that a second choice is coming.
Where you'll meet it: Shops, restaurants, friends making plans. In writing, questions put to the reader.

In use

お支し払はらいは現げん金きんになさいますか、それともカードになさいますか。

Will you be paying in cash or by card?

明日あした、駅えきまで電でん車しゃで行いく？それともバスで行いく？

Are we taking the train to the station tomorrow, or the bus?

責せき任にん者しゃは田た中なかさんですか、それとも佐さ藤とうさんですか。

Is the person in charge Ms. Tanaka or Mr. Sato?

Inside a longer sentence: whether A or B

The two questions can sit inside a longer sentence. Each keeps its か, and a verb like 決きめる or わからない follows.

会かい議ぎを月げつ曜よう日びにするか、それとも火か曜よう日びにするか、今日中きょうじゅうに決きめましょう。

Let's decide today whether to hold the meeting on Monday or Tuesday.

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.

それとN3

One kana shorter and a different word: "and", "one more thing".

コーヒーを一ひとつください。それと、チーズケーキもお願ねがいします。

One coffee, please. And a slice of cheesecake too.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

夏なつ休やすみは北ほっ海かい道どう（　　）沖おき縄なわに行いきます。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which sentence is right?

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

予よ約やくは今日きょう取とり消けしますか、それとも日にっ程ていだけ変へん更こうしますか。

Will you cancel the reservation today, or just change the date?

彼かれが本ほん当とうに知しらなかったのか、それとも知しらないふりをしていたのか、私わたしには判はん断だんできない。

I can't tell whether he really didn't know or was only pretending not to.

この音おとは外そとから聞きこえるのか、それとも建たて物ものの中なかからなのか、確たしかめてください。

Please check whether this sound is coming from outside or from inside the building.