それとも

そ

れ

と

も

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

conjunction

or; or else

usually written using kana alone

Used to present alternatives in questions, often between two clauses or noun phrases. Typically implies a choice between mutually exclusive options.

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 would you prefer tea?
バスで行いきますか、それとも電でん車しゃで行いきますか。
Shall we go by bus, or by train?

See all 37 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉か、それとも〈事こと〉かis it A, or is it B?
行いくか、それとも行いかないか、早はやく決きめて。
Decide quickly whether you're going or not.
〈事こと〉ですか。それとも〈事こと〉ですか。is it A, or is it B (polite question form)
コーヒーにしますか。それとも紅こう茶ちゃにしますか。
Would you like coffee, or would you rather have tea?

Grammar

それともor (asking someone to choose)N3

Kanji

其that

Related words

またはN4
または is more formal and often used in writing or official contexts, while それとも is common in everyday conversation when offering choices, especially in questions.
あるいはN3
あるいは can sound literary or emphatic and works in statements as well as questions, while それとも is used specifically to offer alternatives in questions.
もしくはN1
もしくは is a formal, written-style word for listing alternatives, whereas それとも is the natural spoken choice when asking someone to pick between options.

Don't confuse with

それとN3
それとも looks and sounds almost identical to それと but means 'or' (presenting alternatives), while それと means 'and also' (adding information).

Etymology

Compound of それ (that) and とも (even if, together with). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it functions as a conjunction presenting alternatives.