HSK 6
或A或B
huò A huò B
Either A or B
Explanation
This is the four-character construction (四字格 sì zì gé — a fixed four-character phrase) 或A或B (huò A huò B), meaning "either A or B," used to say that something has various degrees/qualities.
或 (huò) + adjective A + 或 (huò) + adjective B, where A and B are usually a pair of antonyms (大/小 dà/xiǎo big/small, 高/低 gāo/dī high/low). The whole phrase 或A或B usually serves as an attributive (a component that modifies a noun) placed before 的 (de) + noun.
或大或小的贡献 = contributions large or small.
Use it when you want to generalize that "whatever the degree, it exists, with no exception," emphasizing the diversity of degrees. Common in written and formal style.
pairing A and B that are not antonyms/corresponding (it sounds unnatural); or misunderstanding it as an alternative question "either... or..." (like 或者 huò zhě). 或A或B is not used to ask but to describe an already-existing difference in degree.
Examples
Every citizen has made contributions, large or small, to the development of this city.
Every enterprise has a set of quality monitoring and management standards, whether high or low.
Practice
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Learn “或A或B” effectively
The grammar point “或A或B” (Either A or B) is one of the key structures at HSK 6. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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