Definition

1. Conjunction:
   • Perhaps; or; or maybe: Used to introduce a possibility, an alternative, or a supposition. It often expresses uncertainty or presents a choice between options.

Usage Examples

• Conjunction:
  • Anh ấy có thể đến muộn, hoặc giả anh ấy sẽ không đến. (He might be late, or perhaps he won't come at all.)
  • Cô ấy đang bận, hoặc giả cô ấy không muốn nghe điện thoại. (She is busy, or maybe she doesn't want to answer the phone.)
  • Chúng ta có thể đi xem phim hoặc giả ở nhà đọc sách. (We could go to the movies or stay home and read books.)

Advanced Usage

• Introducing a speculative reason: Used to suggest a possible explanation for something.
  • Cửa hàng đóng cửa. Hoặc giả hôm nay là ngày nghỉ. (The shop is closed. Perhaps today is a holiday.)
• In formal or literary contexts: Can be used to present a hypothetical scenario.
  • Hoặc giả chúng ta đã sai từ đầu? (Or perhaps we were wrong from the very beginning?)

Variants and Related Words

• Hoặc (conjunction): Or. A more common and direct word for presenting an alternative without the strong element of "perhaps."
  • Cà phê hoặc trà? (Coffee or tea?)
• Hay (conjunction): Or. Similar to "hoặc," used in both questions and statements.
  • Đi hay không? (Go or not?)
• Có lẽ (adverb): Perhaps, probably. Expresses likelihood but does not function as a conjunction to link alternatives.
  • Có lẽ trời sẽ mưa. (Perhaps it will rain.)

Synonyms

• Hay là: Or; or else. Very similar in meaning and usage to "hoặc giả."
• Biết đâu: Who knows; perhaps. Used to express a more speculative or hopeful possibility.

Related Phrases

• Hoặc là... hoặc là...: Either... or... A correlative conjunction pair for presenting two distinct alternatives.
  • Hoặc là anh đi ngay, hoặc là anh ở lại. (Either you leave now, or you stay.)

Related Idioms

• Không... thời... hoặc giả...: (Literary/Archaic) If not... then... or perhaps... A structure for presenting multiple conditional outcomes.
  • Không thành công, thời thành nhân, hoặc giả cũng để lại tiếng thơm. (If not successful in the endeavor, then successful in character, or perhaps at least leaving a good name.)

1. Perhaps; or