あるいは (aruiwa) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Or
Sandro Maglione
2 min reading time
Updated on 6 March 2023
The Japanese conjunction あるいは (aruiwa) is typically used to express the idea of or in a choice or list of options.
あるいは is most commonly used in formal or written contexts, since it may sound more literary or stiff in casual conversation.
How to say "or" in Japanese
Here are some alternatives to あるいは and when you might use them instead:
- または (
matawa) - This is another word that can be used to expressorand is generally more commonly used than あるいは in everyday speech
犬または猫を飼いたい。
I want to have a dog or a cat as a pet.
- 又は (
matawa) - This is the same as または (matawa), but uses a different kanji character formata(又)
この商品は、オレンジ又はグレープフルーツの味があります。
This product comes in either orange or grapefruit flavor.
- か (
ka) - This is a more casual way to expressor, and is often used in conversation or informal writing
サッカーか野球、どちらが好きですか？
Do you like soccer or baseball more?
- それとも (
soretomo) - This expression can be used to suggest a choice between two options, and is often used in more complex sentences to express a contrast or alternative - 〜であるか、〜であるか (
~de aru ka,~de aru ka) - This is a more formal way to expresseither ... or, and is often used in legal or academic writing
In general, the choice of which word to use depends on the context, register, and personal preference.
あるいは (aruiwa) is often used in formal or written contexts, while または (matawa) is more commonly used in everyday speech.
か (ka) is a casual way to express or, while それとも (soretomo) is used to suggest a choice between two options.
Finally, 〜であるか、〜であるか (~de aru ka, ~de aru ka) is the most formal way to express either ... or.
Examples sentences using あるいは
この本はあるいはオンラインで買うことができますし、書店で購入することもできます。
You can either buy this book online or purchase it at a bookstore.
