Alternative "or" Conjunctions in Chinese 中文中的替代"或"連詞

Alternative "or" Conjunctions in Chinese 中文中的替代"或"連詞

According to different connecting components, Chinese conjunctions can really be divided into 2 types:

根據連接成分的不同，漢語連詞實際上可以分為兩種類型：

Used to connect words and phrases:

和 (hé), 跟 (gēn), 同 (tóng), 与 (yǔ), 及 (jí), 以及 (yǐ jí), 或 (huò) etc.

Used to connect clauses and sentences:

虽然 (suī rán), 尽管 (jǐn guǎn), 然而 (rán ér), 因此 (yīn cǐ), 所以 (suǒ yǐ), 并且 (bìng qiě), 而且 (ér qiě), 还是 (hái shì) 由于 (yóu yú), 因为 (yīn wèi), 只有 (zhǐ yǒu),  不管 (bù guǎn) etc.

Sometimes, the 2nd type of conjunction can also be used to connect a certain word or phrase. They can also be used alone, or used with another conjunction or conjunctive adverb in a pair.

Single conjunction:

城东在下雨，而城西却是晴天。(chéng dōng zài xià yǔ, ér chéng xī què shì qíng tiān)

The east of the city is rainy, but the west of the city is sunny.

Conjunctions used in pairs:

因为今天下雨，所以我没有出门。(yīn wèi jīn tiān xià yǔ, suǒ yǐ wǒ méi yǒu chū mén.)

I did not go out today, because it was raining.

Conjunctions used with a conjunctive adverb in a pair:

只要明天不下雨，我们就去露营。(zhǐ yào míng tiān bù xià yǔ, wǒ men jiù qù lù yíng)

As long as it is not raining tomorrow, we will go camping.