How to Say “Tea or coffee?” in Chinese
Food and dining · HSK 2
"Tea or coffee?" in Chinese is 茶还是咖啡？ (chá hái shì kā fēi). 茶还是咖啡 (chá háishi kāfēi) uses 还是 (háishi, "or" in questions) to offer a choice. 还是 is specifically for questions; 或者 (huòzhě) is for statements.
Primary translation
茶还是咖啡？
chá hái shì kā fēi
Traditional: 茶還是咖啡？
When to use it
茶还是咖啡 (chá háishi kāfēi) uses 还是 (háishi, "or" in questions) to offer a choice. 还是 is specifically for questions; 或者 (huòzhě) is for statements. Chinese tea comes in many kinds: 绿茶 (green), 红茶 (black, literally "red"), 乌龙茶 (oolong), 普洱茶 (pu-er), 花茶 (flower). Coffee culture has exploded in urban China; 瑞幸 (Luckin), 星巴克 (Starbucks), 库迪 (Cotti) dominate. 美式 is Americano, 拿铁 is latte, 卡布奇诺 is cappuccino.
Example sentences
你要茶还是咖啡？
Nǐ yào chá háishi kāfēi?
Do you want tea or coffee?
来一杯拿铁，不加糖。
Lái yì bēi nátiě, bù jiā táng.
A latte, no sugar.
我喜欢乌龙茶。
Wǒ xǐhuān wūlóng chá.
I like oolong tea.