Master 还是 vs. 或者 in Chinese + Live-Stream Shopping | HSK 3

In today’s episode, we break down one of the most confusing pairs in Mandarin: 还是 (háishi) and 或者 (huòzhě). Both translate as “or” in English, but they’re used in very different situations. You’ll learn when to use 还是 in questions where someone must choose, and when to use 或者 in statements where you’re simply listing options.

In the cultural segment, we explore the booming world of 直播带货 (zhíbò dàihuò), or live-stream shopping. From influencers who can sell thousands of products in minutes, to farmers selling fruit directly from their orchards, and even scandals involving fake goods, this phenomenon has become a key part of modern Chinese consumer culture.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ The difference between 还是 (used in questions with choices) and 或者 (used in statements with options)
✅ How to avoid common mistakes when saying “or” in Chinese
✅ Practical, everyday examples you can start using immediately
✅ Cultural insights into live-stream shopping and the influencer economy in China

Fun Fact:
Li Jiaqi (李佳琦), known as the “Lipstick King,” once sold around 15,000 lipsticks in just five minutes during a live-stream. That’s the power of 网红经济, China’s influencer-driven economy.

Question for You:
How would you say in Chinese: “Do you want to drink coffee or tea?”
Write your answer in the comments and we’ll check it.

Mini Challenge:
Create your own sentence using 还是 or 或者. For example:
你想去北京还是上海？
(Do you want to go to Beijing or Shanghai?)

明天我可以坐地铁或者打车去上班。
(Tomorrow I can take the subway or a taxi to work.)

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• (00:00:13) - Grammar Today: Both Means or
• (00:01:21) - Chinese Dialogue
• (00:04:42) - Hua Zh
• (00:07:40) - Live Stream Shopping or Online Shopping?
• (00:09:50) - China's Live-Stream Shopping
• (00:15:27) - How to Make a Chinese Sentence
• (00:16:34) - China's Live-Stream Shopping