還是

還是

1. still

   我還是很喜歡你。 [MSC, trad.]
   我还是很喜欢你。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒ háishì hěn xǐhuan nǐ. [Pinyin]

   I still like you a lot.

   其實我覺得吧，他還是太年輕了。 [MSC, trad.]
   其实我觉得吧，他还是太年轻了。 [MSC, simp.]

   Qíshí wǒ juéde ba, tā háishì tài niánqīng le. [Pinyin]

   Actually, I think he is still too young.

   現在形勢還是很嚴峻哪。 [MSC, trad.]
   现在形势还是很严峻哪。 [MSC, simp.]

   Xiànzài xíngshì háishì hěn yánjùn na. [Pinyin]

   The current situation is still very grim.

2. nevertheless; yet

   離異家庭到底還是會影響到孩子。 [MSC, trad.]
   离异家庭到底还是会影响到孩子。 [MSC, simp.]

   Líyì jiātíng dàodǐ háishì huì yǐngxiǎng dào háizi. [Pinyin]

   Children from divorced families will be affected in the end.

3. (chiefly Wu) used to form comparative structures; -er than

   儂還是伊長。 [Shanghainese, trad.]
   侬还是伊长。 [Shanghainese, simp.]

   ⁶non ⁶ghe-zy ⁶yi ⁶zan [Wugniu]

   He is taller than you.

4. had better; it would be best (to do something); one would be well-advised to

   這個討論還是由你來主持。 [MSC, trad.]
   这个讨论还是由你来主持。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhège tǎolùn háishì yóu nǐ lái zhǔchí. [Pinyin]

   You had better host this discussion.

   我們還是先談正事吧。 [MSC, trad.]
   我们还是先谈正事吧。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒmen háishì xiān tán zhèngshì ba. [Pinyin]

   We'd better discuss proper business first.

   要不我，我還是先回去吧。 [MSC, trad.]
   要不我，我还是先回去吧。 [MSC, simp.]

   Yàobù wǒ, wǒ háishì xiān huíqù ba. [Pinyin]

   I think it's best I leave.

• (still):

• (had better): (colloquial) 頂好／顶好 (dǐnghǎo), 最好 (zuìhǎo), (Hokkien) 上好

還是

1. or

   你要吃中國菜還是日本料理？ [MSC, trad.]
   你要吃中国菜还是日本料理？ [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐ yào chī Zhōngguócài háishì Rìběn liàolǐ? [Pinyin]

   Do you want to eat Chinese food or Japanese food?

   無論你想吃中國菜還是日本料理，自助餐都會有你喜歡的。 [MSC, trad.]
   无论你想吃中国菜还是日本料理，自助餐都会有你喜欢的。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wúlùn nǐ xiǎng chī Zhōngguócài háishì Rìběn liàolǐ, zìzhùcān dōu huì yǒu nǐ xǐhuān de. [Pinyin]

   Whether you want Chinese or Japanese food, the buffet will have what you like.

   你們這次旅遊是自助還是跟團兒啊？ [MSC, trad.]
   你们这次旅游是自助还是跟团儿啊？ [MSC, simp.]

   Nǐmen zhèicì lǚyóu shì zìzhù háishi gēntuánr a? [Pinyin]

   For this trip, are you travelling by yourselves or with a tour group?

• In Mandarin, 還是／还是 (when meaning "or") is exclusively used in questions, in which context it replaces the need for 嗎／吗 (ma) as a question word; as well as in some fixed phrases with words like 不管 (bùguǎn) or 無論／无论 (wúlùn). Other senses of the word "or" in English are given by 或者 (huòzhě) (or 或 (huò)), which is only used in statements. For example, "A 或者 B" means "A or B".

• 或 (huò)
• 或者 (huòzhě)