or
conjunction ukstrong /ɔːr/ weak /ər/ us/ɔːr/ /ɚ/
(POSSIBILITIES)
A1 （用于连接不同的可能性）或，或者；还是，亦或
used to connect different possibilities
Is it Tuesday or Wednesday today? 今天是星期二还是星期三？
You can pay now or when you come back to pick up the paint. 你可以现在付款，也可以等你回来取油漆时再付。
Are you listening to me or not? 你有没有在听我说话？
The patent was granted in (either) 1962 or 1963 - I can't quite remember which. 该专利是在1962年或1963年授予的——我记不清是哪一年了。
It doesn't matter whether you win or lose - it's taking part that's important. 输赢没有关系——重在参与。
There were ten or twelve (= approximately that number of) people in the room. 房间里有10个或12个人。
He was just kidding - or was he (= but it is possible that he was not)? 他只是在开玩笑——或许他不是？
A2 （用于否定动词后）也不
used after a negative verb to mean not one thing and also not another
The child never smiles or laughs. 这孩子从不微笑，也不大笑。
Compare: nor
- More examples
- If the product doesn't work, you are given the choice of a refund or a replacement.
- Are the photos in colour or black and white?
- Are you comfortable or shall I turn the heat down?
- You can move the cursor either by using the mouse or by using the arrow keys on the keyboard.
- Is it my imagination or is David behaving strangely at the moment?
(IF NOT)
B1 否则，要不然
if not
You should eat more, or you'll make yourself ill. 你应该多吃点，否则你会生病的。
- More examples
- "Clear off or I'll call the police!"
- Do your coat up, Joe, or you'll freeze.
- Are you comfortable or shall I turn the heat down?
- Come on, stir yourselves, or you'll be late!
- I heard him shout "Stop, or I'll shoot!"
(EXPLAIN)
B2 （用于引出同义词、同义短语或解释性、限定性、纠正性词语或短语）或者说，也就是，即
used to show that a word or phrase means the same as, or explains, limits, or corrects, another word or phrase
Rosalind, or Roz to her friends, took the initiative. 罗莎琳德，她的朋友们叫她罗兹，首先采取了行动。
Things have been going very well recently. Or they were, until two days ago. 近来事情进展得一直都很顺利。或者说，直到两天以前还一直很顺利。
- More examples
- I'll do it later. Or, at least I'll try to do it.
- Football, or soccer as it's sometimes called, is very popular in the country.
Idioms
or noidiom informal （用于强调所说事物不会有影响）或没有
used to emphasize that the stated thing will not make any difference
Extra pay or no extra pay, I'm not going to work late again tonight. 不管有没有加班费，今晚我都不打算再工作到很晚。
or soidiom informalB1 大约，左右
approximately
They raised two hundred dollars or so for charity. 他们为慈善事业募集了大约200美元。
or twoidiom informalC1 大约，左右；多一点儿
approximately or a little more than
I'll be with you in a minute or two. 我过一两分钟就到。
It's a good year or two since we last met. 从我们上次见面以来已有一年多了。