还是: “or” in a question
【一19】【一33】【一47】连词“还是” / 选择问句
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
A + 还是 + B？
还是 (háishi) offers a choice in a question: 你喝茶还是喝水？ (tea or water?).
The verb is often repeated on both sides. With 是, use just one 是: 你爸爸是老师还是医生？
It's already a question, so no 吗 at the end.
For later: in a statement (“we can go Monday or Tuesday”), “or” is 或者 (level 2), not 还是.
Examples
你喝茶还是喝水？
Nǐ hē chá háishi hē shuǐ?Would you like tea or water?
你爸爸是老师还是医生？
Nǐ bàba shì lǎoshī háishi yīshēng?Is your dad a teacher or a doctor?
你们坐火车去还是坐飞机去？
Nǐmen zuò huǒchē qù háishi zuò fēijī qù?Are you going by train or by plane?
你喝水还是喝牛奶？
Nǐ hē shuǐ háishi hē niúnǎi?Water or milk?
Common mistakes
✗ 你喝茶还是喝水吗？ → ✓ 你喝茶还是喝水？
✗ 你喝茶和水？ to offer a choice → ✓ 你喝茶还是喝水？ (和 = “and”).