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Did you know that there are actually two ways of saying "or" in Cantonese? In English, you use the word "or" for both listing and making choices. However, in Cantonese, we use 或者 and 定係 (sometimes just 定) for different purposes. The Mandarin equivalent of 定係 is 還是.
或者 for Listing Possibilities
或者 is typically used for listing. When used in statements, it lists two or more equal possibilities, and both are acceptable. The distinction between the options isn't important. When used to offer or ask about two options, it often expects a yes-no answer, rather than a specific choice.
Statement examples
你幫我買兩個橙或者蘋果吖，唔該
Please help me to buy two oranges or apples.(Either oranges or apples work; it doesn’t matter which you buy.)
我哋通常食飯或者麵
We usually eat rice or noodles.(It lists possibilities and not about making choices.)
Question example
【(verb-not-verb) - noun 1 - 或者 - noun 2？】
你想唔想食橙或者蘋果呀？
Do you want to eat oranges or apples?(The focus is on whether you want fruit, not necessarily which one. Notice the use of 想唔想 (want, not-want) in this type of question, as it asks if you want to eat at all, without assuming that you already do.)
你鍾唔鍾意飲茶或者咖啡㗎？
Do you like drinking tea or coffee?(It asks about the general preference for coffee or tea. The use of 鍾唔鍾意 (like, not-like) focuses on whether you like these beverages, rather than asking you to make a choice. It doesn’t assume that you have a strong preference for one over the other and leaves both options equally possible.)
定係 for Choices
On the other hand, 定係 is used for making a choice. It’s typically used in questions where two or more options are presented, and you need to choose one. It assumes the listener is already interested in one of the options and is asking them to decide which one.
Question example
【(verb) - option 1 - 定係 - option 2？】
你想食橙定係蘋果呀？
Do you want to eat oranges or apples?(This assumes you want fruit and asks which one you prefer. Notice here you just use 想(to want) without 唔想 (to not want), because you're already assuming they want fruit.)
你鍾意飲茶定係咖啡多啲㗎？
Do you like drinking tea or coffee more?(It assumes there is a preference and asks for a preference between two specific options. Only 鍾意 (to like) is used here.)
Scenarios & Dialogues
Dialogue 1
A: 你哋有冇茶或者咖啡呀？
A: Do you have tea or coffee?
(It expects a yes-no answer.)
B: 有呀，我哋兩樣都有。你想要茶定係咖啡？
B: Yes, we have both. Do you want tea or coffee?
(It expects the choice.)
A: 咖啡吖，唔該
A: Coffee, please.
Dialogue 2
A: 想唔想去迪士尼或者海洋公園呀？
A: Do you want to go to Disneyland or Ocean Park?
(A asks whether B is interested in going to either Disneyland or Ocean Park. It’s a general question about whether B want to go at all, without forcing a specific choice between the two.)
B: 想呀！
B: Yes!
A: 噉你想去迪士尼定係海洋公園呀？
A: So, do you want to go to Disneyland or Ocean Park?
(A asks for a choice between the two, as B have already confirmed his/her interest. The question assumes B is already interested and prompts B to pick one.)
B: 冇所謂呀，去海洋公園定係迪士尼都係咁開心！
I don’t mind, whether it’s Ocean Park or Disneyland, I’ll be just as happy!
(定係 contrasts between the two options. This highlights and emphasizes that the outcome (happiness) is the same, regardless of the choice.)