要么

要麼

yàome

conjunction HSK 6 #1,121

Meanings

要么你来，要么我去。

Yàome nǐ lái, yàome wǒqù.

Either you come here, or I go there.

要么现在做，要么永远别做。

Yàome xiànzài zuò, yàome yǒngyuǎn bié zuò.

Either do it now, or never do it.

午饭要么吃面，要么吃饭。

Wǔfàn yàome chī miàn, yàome chīfàn.

For lunch, either eat noodles or rice.

他要么在图书馆，要么在教室。

Tā yàome zài túshūguǎn, yàome zài jiàoshì.

He's either in the library or in the classroom.

usage

要么...要么... always presents two (or more) options. Unlike 或者 (or), 要么 emphasizes that you must choose one — it's more decisive.

要 yào

么 me