JLPT N3 · Adverb

あるいは (aruiwa)

あるいは is a Japanese adverb meaning “or; either ... or”. It is usually written in kana. It appears in JLPT N3 vocabulary lists and is marked as a common word in JMdict.

Reading
あるいは
Romaji
aruiwa
Word class
Adverb
Level
JLPT N3 (unofficial)

Meaning

  1. or; either ... or · conjunction · usually written in kana · は is pronounced as わ
  2. maybe; perhaps; possibly · adverb · usually written in kana
  3. some ... and others ...; sometimes ... and at other times ... · adverb · usually written in kana · as あるいは...あるいは...

Example sentences

ガスで調理しますか、あるいは電気ですか。
Do you cook by gas or electricity?

Sentences from the Tatoeba project, linked to this word in JMdict.

Source: JMdict entry 1586850 (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0). Level: unofficial JLPT list – how levels are assigned.