それとも

それとも means or; or else. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to connect alternative questions or choices.

This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to connect alternative questions or choices, それとも is a useful pattern to learn.

What does それとも mean?

Use それとも when you want to connect alternative questions or choices.

Natural translations include:

• or; or else
• or
• or / or else

How to form それとも

Question A + それとも + Question B

Examples of the pattern:

• 行きますか、それとも残りますか
• 電車ですか、それともバスですか
• 今日ですか、それとも明日ですか

When is それとも used?

Use それとも in situations like:

• offering choices
• asking either-or questions
• clarifying alternatives

Tone and register:

• neutral
• Common in JLPT reading, grammar questions, and natural Japanese sentences

それとも example sentences

• コーヒーにしますか、それとも紅茶にしますか。 — Will you have coffee, or tea?
• 電車で行きますか。それともバスで行きますか。 — Will you go by train, or by bus?
• 今日会いますか、それとも明日にしますか。 — Shall we meet today, or make it tomorrow?
• 映画を見ますか。それとも買い物に行きますか。 — Will we watch a movie, or go shopping?
• 一人で行くの？それとも友達と行くの？ — Are you going alone, or with friends?

Nuance of それとも

The key nuance is choice between alternatives, especially in questions.

This matters because それとも does more than translate one English phrase. It shows how the speaker connects ideas, evaluates a situation, or frames the sentence for the listener.

For example:

• In context, it sounds natural when the surrounding sentence supports the nuance.
• Compared with または, it has a different focus and level of formality.

それとも vs または

Both それとも and または can appear in related situations, but they are different.

それとも:

• means or; or else
• fits the specific N3 pattern and nuance explained above

または:

• または is written “or”; それとも is common in spoken either-or questions

Quick contrast examples:

• Target: コーヒーにしますか、それとも紅茶にしますか。 — Will you have coffee, or tea?
• Compare: Try replacing it with または and check whether the nuance still matches.

Common mistakes with それとも

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using it to list more than two unrelated items awkwardly
• Using it in statements where または is better
• Forgetting that it often connects questions

Is それとも on the JLPT?

Yes. それとも is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for それとも

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Ask coffee or tea.
• Ask train or bus.
• Ask today or tomorrow.

Learning path for それとも

To learn それとも efficiently, review simple lists first, then practice whether you are giving examples, vague alternatives, or choices.

1. First, make sure you can form それとも without looking at the pattern chart.
2. Next, compare it with なんか / なんて / など, か何か（かなにか）. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.
3. Finally, write sentences that introduce examples without overcommitting; then check whether replacing それとも with 例えば（たとえば） changes the meaning.

Related grammar to review next

• なんか / なんて / など — because it helps you list, introduce, or choose among examples.
• か何か（かなにか） — because it helps you list, introduce, or choose among examples.
• 例えば（たとえば） — because it helps you list, introduce, or choose among examples.
• とか～とか — because it helps you list, introduce, or choose among examples.

Learn それとも with Hane

If you want to review それとも together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N3 grammar lessons